Statement by Prime Minister and
Minister of National Security,

Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris

February 15th, 2019

My Fellow Citizens and Residents,

It is my duty to address the nation
regarding the recent increase in criminal activities which if left
unchecked will undermine the wonderful socio-economic gains that the
Team Unity Government has achieved over the past 4 years. The
development, peace and progress of our beautiful Country must never
be compromised by the actions of a few criminals.

My government conveys our sincere
sympathies to all families who have lost loved ones as a result of
gang-related violence since the beginning of the year.

At this time, there have been seven
homicides. This level of depravity and gross disregard for life and
property cannot – and will not – be tolerated by my government.

The Cabinet met with the High Command
of our principal law enforcement agencies: the Police, Defence Force,
and the Customs & Excise Department, accompanied by the Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, the National Security
Advisor and the Financial Secretary on Tuesday and again on Thursday.
We also met with representatives of the Chamber of Industry and
Commerce, and will meet with other critical stakeholders over the
course of the coming weeks.

Our security forces have advised the
Cabinet of their plans to vigorously defend the peace and ensure the
safety of all citizens and residents. In this regard, a number of
security initiatives will be pursued on a long-term sustained basis.

We call on all citizens and residents
to give their fullest cooperation to our law enforcement officers as
they go about their special and general operations in our crime
hotspots and all other areas of concerns. The core mandate of our
law enforcement officers is that of finding the criminals and
bringing them to justice.

Criminals must never find comfort or
protection anywhere in St. Kitts and Nevis. Everyone, indeed our
families, churches, businesses and political parties are being called
upon to stand firmly with the security forces as they work to make us
safe and prevent further loss of life and injury to persons and
property.

I am not at liberty to make public
every initiative in the Police’s vigorous response. However, I
would advise that there will be some measure of inconvenience as
Police hunt down the criminals in the pursuit of justice. Vehicle
checkpoints will be par for the course. Persons should expect some
delay at police checkpoints and cooperate readily with law
enforcement. In anticipation of possible transportation delays, it
is advised that commuters make earlier and better preparation to get
to and from work.

In order to assist our law enforcement
officers, we should better respond to the criminal challenge.

Those in association with known
criminals of interest to the Police should provide information to the
Police, and those who have information on any killing or violent act
or criminal activity are encouraged to report same. This is not a
time to protect criminals. Now is the time to turn them over to our
law enforcement agencies.

The Cabinet has approved the
recommendations from the High Command that:

(1) The training programme at the
Police Training School be temporarily suspended, allowing the
recruits, inspectors, corporals and other officers attached thereto
to be reassigned to areas most in need of manpower support.

(2) Professional advice and support
from abroad be sought as and when necessary by the High Command.

(3) Increased special operations to be
commenced immediately. These would include: enhanced stop and
searches, targeted raids, cordon and search operations and deployment
of technological assets.

(4) Community outreach programmes and
the build-out of our Explorer programmes continue apace.

(5) The Attorney General will determine
what additional legislative responses can be effected in the very
near future to give greater support to law enforcement agencies in
their fight against crime.

(6) The Police High Command releases
the names and photos of several persons of interest to them, and we
encourage those with knowledge of the whereabouts of these persons to
inform the Police soonest.

My Fellow Citizens and Residents, these
are critical times. We cannot be uncertain about where we stand on
the issue of law and order. The peace, prosperity and orderly
development of our Country must be number one.

Let us therefore work together with our
law enforcement officers to stamp out crime, in particular violent
crimes. We must also work together earnestly to restore our land to
a place where peace and safety beautifully abound.

May God Bless St Kitts and Nevis. May
He forever keep us safe!