The Nevis Island Administration has taken delivery of three K-9 units to bolster security efforts across the island, despite national security not falling under its constitutional mandate.
Premier Mark Brantley announced the acquisition, which cost approximately EC$200,000, emphasizing the NIA’s continued commitment to enhancing safety for residents and visitors alike.
“While National Security is not a matter for which the NIA is constitutionally responsible, we have time and time again invested in the enhanced safety and security of Nevis and by extension the Federation,” Brantley stated in a social media post.
The specially trained dogs will work alongside the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and Customs officials in their security operations. The investment represents part of the administration’s broader policy of supporting federal security initiatives at the local level.
Premier Brantley framed the purchase within the government’s sustainability agenda, noting that “citizen comfort and security are critical to a sustainable future for all Nevisians and those who call Nevis home.”
The K-9 units are expected to contribute significantly to ongoing efforts in areas such as drug detection, search operations, and general law enforcement activities. The deployment marks another tangible investment by the NIA in public safety infrastructure.
“Today is a great day for Nevis and the wider Federation,” Brantley concluded, highlighting the collaborative approach to security between the island administration and federal authorities.
The acquisition demonstrates Nevis’s proactive stance on security matters, voluntarily investing substantial resources in areas beyond its direct constitutional responsibilities.