BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 04, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, said the delivery of a modern Newcastle Police Station and Fire Unit on Nevis, with support from the Federal Government, is another testament to the improved relationship that now exists between the Federal entity and the Nevis Island Administration that was ushered in under the Team Unity administration.
“We are here to commission for use this beautiful building, the New Castle Police Station and Fire Hall. The planning, funding, construction, and now commissioning of this new structure is further testament to what we have all come to know as truth, that this Team Unity Administration, under my leadership, has ushered in the best working relationship between the two islands, specifically the Federal Government and the Nevis Island Administration,” Prime Minister Harris said during the opening of the new police station on Thursday, December 04.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of National Security, contributed in excess of $2 million towards the construction and furnishing of the Newcastle Police Station and Fire Unit. The entire project was completed at a cost of $5.5 million.
Prime Minister Harris indicated that the support by his Government for national security projects in Nevis is not restricted to support for construction of the police station.
“In November 2019, with the support from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), an Agreement was signed with VIVOTEK in the amount of EC$4,998,449.83 to supply cameras and other accessories, as well as the equipment and furniture for the Command Center for the expansion of the CCTV Surveillance System here in Nevis. Additionally, the St. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force, at the request of the NIA, has over the last four years maintained a presence of soldiers on Nevis to support the work of the police here in controlling crime and maintaining law and order,” Dr. Harris added.
The Public Works Department on St. Kitts recently visited the island of Nevis where an assessment of all police facilities on Nevis was conducted.
Prime Minister Harris said, “The Ministry of National Security currently has for consideration and approval estimates for repairs to stations in Gingerland, Cotton Ground, Butler’s Barracks and Bath Barracks, and the Division Headquarters in Charlestown. These will be addressed in due course on a phased basis having regard to available resources.”
The honourable prime minister stressed that these improvements to the national security infrastructure on Nevis will contribute to the overall peace and safety of residents and visitors to the island.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 03, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – With the opening of a modern Newcastle Police Station and Fire Unit, the Nevis Island Administration and, by extension the Team Unity Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, have demonstrated their commitment to the health and safety of the men and women of the nation’s security forces.
That’s according to Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, when he delivered remarks at the opening of the modern Newcastle Police Station and Fire Unit on Nevis earlier today (Thursday, December 03).
“The health and safety of our security forces, and in this case, our law enforcement officers, as well as our fire officers, had been recognized and continue to be recognized as an essentially important factor in our crime mitigation and prevention strategies, but more-so, as a basic human and workers’ right,” Prime Minister Harris said.
The need for a new structure became necessary when, in 2016, the Government made the decision to close the Newcastle Police Station as it had been deemed to be in very poor condition and posed a serious health risk to the men and women of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police stationed there.
Prime Minister Harris said shortly after assuming office, his administration undertook a systematic assessment of the crime and criminality situation in the country.
“As part of that assessment, we became aware of the deplorable conditions of the building that this edifice now replaces. But this was not unique. Similar situations were found at the stations in Old Road, in Sandy Point and St. Pauls in St. Kitts. These conditions were not just deplorable, but had reached an embarrassingly dangerous level. The Federal Cabinet took the decision to close a number of these stations for the health and safety of all,” the prime minister said.
“We were cognizant of what seemed to be lost on our predecessors that poor accommodation, outdated and/or mal-maintained equipment and technologies would negatively impact the morale of our men and women in uniform and could even adversely affect recruiting of new police officers,” Dr. Harris added.
As a result of the strong cooperation between the Nevis Island Administration and the Federal Government, the construction of the multi-million dollar Newcastle Police Station and Fire Unit was realized.
Thursday’s opening ceremony was also attended by Deputy Governor General, Her Honour Mrs Hyleeta Liburd; Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Mark Brantley and other members of the Nevis Island Administration, as well as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Osmond Petty; Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilroy Brandy; Fire Chief Mr. Everette O’Garro and officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. Mr. Andrew Skerritt, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, was also present.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 27, 2020) — The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) continues to support the Police officers assigned to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) District C, a move that Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis says is instructive.
Mr. Brantley made the point at his monthly press conference on November 26, 2020, while announcing the planned official opening of the Newcastle Police Station and Fire Unit slated for December 03, 2020.
“I think that it is instructive that the Nevis Island Administration has always demonstrated, and I make the point, this is not a political point that I’m making, that successive administrations – both under the [Nevis Reformation Party] NRP and under the [Concerned Citizens Movement] CCM, we have always stood with the Police.
“We think about the Gingerland Police Station. We think about the Charlestown Police Station. We think about the Cotton Ground Police Station. We think of the barracks up at Bath. We think of the housing that has been provided at Butlers and we think now about the brand new Newcastle Police Station, and you see that the NIA has always been there and has always supported not just in word but in deed, in action, our police,” he said.
Mr. Brantley noted that the Nevis Island Administration does not have a budget for national security, however, it is important to take care of the police who work to keep Nevis and Nevisians safe.
“There is no line item in the NIA budget for national security but nevertheless, we continue to spend what little resources we have to ensure that the men and women in uniform on the island of Nevis who keep all of us safe, that they are treated properly, that they are provided with the tools that they need to function, and in this case, they are provided with a building that we feel when the public sees it unveiled on the December 3rd, that they will all say that they are well pleased…
“I think we are setting a standard here that I’m hopeful will be maintained,” he said.
The Premier used the opportunity to commend Hon. Alexis Jeffers, Deputy Premier and the Area Representative for St. James’ Parish where the new facility is located, for spearheading the project.
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