Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 10, 2016 (SKNIS): Attorney General, Honourable Vincent Byron Jr., said St. Kitts and Nevis is on the right track in its strategy to enhance public safety and reduce crime.
The comments were made on Thursday (June 09) at the end of a presentation to the Criminal Justice Strategic Board (CJSB) by International Social Skills Consultant Neals J. Chitan. Mr. Byron attended the meeting in his capacity as the chairman of the CJSB and commended the Ministry of National Security for engaging Mr. Chitan’s services as he conducts the June 04 to 11 Crime Reduction Consultation with various stakeholder groups.
The attorney general congratulated Mr. Chitan on the presentation and described it as beneficial and motivational as the CJSB was created to assist law enforcement, the community and other entities to curb crime, and promote the rehabilitation of persons in conflict with the law. He referred to steps being undertaken by larger regional countries such as Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and said the local police are in line with the proven strategies. These include increased vehicular patrols, the daily deployment of the Mobile Command Unit, and additional units on foot patrol in Basseterre and select areas.
“The enforcement has been stepped up in our communities and I think we need to give every commendation to the police command for showing leadership in the community at this time,” Mr. Byron said. He added that the community policing strategy outlined in the police’s Six Point Plan to Reduce Violent Crimes in St. Kitts and Nevis will take time to fully implement and asked residents to cooperate and lend assistance where possible.
Attorney General Byron said he was pleased to have Mr. Chitan’s assistance at this time and said he was looking forward to the outcomes of the various consultations, which will be compiled into a report and submitted to the Federal Cabinet. A wide cross section of nationals are included in the consultation schedule including persons from the public and private sectors, faith-based institutions, teachers, parents, youth groups, law enforcement, persons in incarceration, and others.
“I do believe that this is one of those positive moments for us to take and understand why we should give up our time to participate in this type of event,” he said, adding that the best way to reduce crime includes persons coming together and giving recommendations and other types of support to the cause.