United States official hails leadership of PM Douglas

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas (left) and Washington-based Deputy Assistant Secretary, Her Excellency Liliana Ayalde

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 4TH 2012 (CUOPM) – A senior United States Department of State official in Washington, D.C. has expressed appreciation for the leadership of St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas in the fight against drug trafficking and criminal activity.

Her Excellency Ms. Liliana Ayalde, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Caribbean, Central America and Cuban Affairs, in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in the Department of State, Commissioner has expressed thanks and appreciation to Prime Minister Douglas “for personally exhibiting the type of leadership and for being in the forefront.” She is in St. Kitts to attend the Third Meetiong of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBSI) Commission of which along with St. Kitts is co-chair.

“St. Kitts and Nevis continues to be in the forefront,” she told Prime Minister Douglas during a courtesy on Wednesday morning.

Expressing concerns over the increase in homicides in the Caribbean region, the United States official pointed however to the “dramatic downturn in homicides and crime in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

She credited the leadership of Prime Minister Douglas as Head of the Anti-Crime Unit and new Commissioner of Police Mr. C. G. Walwyn.

“What is being done here is to be applauded as much more needs to be done. The (Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police) Force has the integrity and the ability,” said the United States Deputy Assistant Secretary, who is based in Washington, D.C.

(Left to right) – Director of the Narcotics Division Section, Mr. Kurt van der Walde; United States Embassy in Barbados; Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Barbados, Mr. Christopher Sandrolini; St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas; Deputy Assistant Secretary, Her Excellency Liliana Ayalde and Mr. Juan A. Alsace, Director of the Office of Caribbean Affairs, Department of State in Washington, D.C.

She said the United States and its agencies and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Commission will continue to work with St. Kitts and Nevis in fighting crime, drug trafficking and juvenile and legislative reform.

“St. Kitts and Nevis has been a leader and in the forefront of fighting against crime,” said the United States Deputy Assistant Secretary, who credited Prime Minister Douglas for making tough decisions in these difficult economic times and has been making progress in the debt restructuring and turning the economy around.

Prime Minister Douglas thanked the senior United States official for visiting St. Kitts and Nevis and said his Administration cherishes its relationship with the United States and the strong support provided in several areas.

He said the new leadership of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force also has the full support of the private sector and the community in general.

Dr. Douglas thanked the United States for the donation of US$300,000 towards equipment and furniture for the soon to be opened New Horizon Rehabilitation Center and said he was happy the Barbados-based United States Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Larry Palmer for personally handing over the consignment.

The United States Deputy Assistant Secretary was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Barbados, Mr. Christopher Sandrolini; Director of the Narcotics Division Section, Mr. Kurt van der Walde; United States Embassy in Barbados and Mr. Juan A. Alsace, Director of the Office of Caribbean Affairs, Department of State in Washington, D.C.