PM Douglas hails launching of Crime Stoppers Programme in St. Kitts and Nevis

PM Douglas

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, DECEMBER 14TH 2013 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has hailed the “wonderful spirit of partnership” that has developed between the Federation’s business community and law enforcement in the Federation, in recent years.

“That is good, because strong business and community involvement in Crime Stoppers is absolutely essential to the success of the Crime Stoppers’ Programme wherever they operate,” said Prime Minister Douglas during the launching of the St. Kitts and Nevis Crime Stoppers Programme.

“We look forward to Crime Stoppers supporting the outstanding work of our country’s law enforcement and national security establishment. And we welcome the opportunities that this will create for a heightened level of business and community involvement in our campaign to ensure that St. Kitts and Nevis becomes ever more peaceful and ever more safe, with every passing day,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

Earlier in his remarks, Prime Minister Douglas, who has ministerial responsibility for the police, noted that “listening to almost any talk show, even for only a few seconds, would invariably reveal one national or another lamenting the madness that had seemingly gripped some of our youths. Indeed, we had a problem not only with youth violence, but with the most extreme form of crime there is – the type of crime that results in the loss of life.”

“For a long time, these were the realities that pre-occupied our nation. Indeed, so major was this issue that the topic of crime morphed from one of understandable social concern, to one of highly divisive political discourse. Everyone here can remember those days,” said the Prime Minister who added that governments are elected to solve problems, to identify those conditions and circumstances that are causing unease amongst those who elected them, and to change these conditions.

“And so, that is exactly what we did. We analyzed the then-crisis from every possible perspective and, among other things, recognized that joint leadership, of the caliber of Commissioner C. G. Walwyn and Commander Patrick Wallace, was exactly what our nation needed. And so I must make a point of again publicly commending these two outstanding officers for the extraordinary co-operation they have consistently exhibited – to the lasting benefit of us all. Because, as a result, St. Kitts and Nevis, in the space of two short years, has seen a phenomenal drop in crime,” said the Prime Minister.

Dr. Douglas said there is now a much longed-for sense of ease and peace.

“And for this we are – all of us – deeply grateful. However, I have always said, and Commander Wallace and Commissioner Walwyn have consistently said, as well, that controlling crime will require not only first-class law enforcement leadership, and not only a concerned populace, but, most importantly, an engaged populace as well. An engaged populace,” he told invited guests.

“It is because that has been the mantra, and because we so firmly believe this, that we so warmly welcome the Crime Stoppers Programme to the Federation,” Dr. Douglas said.

Crime Stoppers, begun in the United States some thirty-six years ago, has since spread to a number of other countries – including a number in the Caribbean.

“And, in a nation as small as ours, where everyone knows everyone else, the anonymity that Crime Stoppers provides will, I know, encourage many Kittitians and Nevisians, who might otherwise be hesitant, to step forward to share vital information with law enforcement, regarding crimes that have taken place,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister.