(CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS)- Even amid the latest killings and robberies, the Commissioner of Police of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Mr. Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn has proclaimed that crime in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has minimized. The Commissioner assured the people of St. Kitts and Nevis of this status in a ‘Conversation for Progress’ discussion held at the hard court in Brown Hill on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. He was proud to announce that the Federation is still a great place to live and that crimes in the twin-islands have declined.
Assembled at the head table of the ‘Conversation for Progress’, were Mr. Cartwright Farrell, CEO of SKELEC; Hon. Patrice Nisbett, Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas and the Commissioner of Police, who addressed the gathering on crime.
The Commissioner stated that, “In October 2014 regardless of the hype that you’ve been hearing and the challenges of last month, crime is down by 40%”. He reassured the audience of the hard work by the police to keep the citizenry safe and he begged those in attendance not to listen to the ‘hype’ especially as it relates to the state of crime in the Federation.
Walwyn indicated that because of some of the concerns that had been expressed by the citizens of the Federation, the police have increased the day and night patrols. He noted that the Federal Government recently purchased ten (10) new police cars, two (2) of which were sent to Nevis. Additionally, last week the Nevis branch of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police received four (4) motorcycles.
Commissioner Walwyn explained, “A lot of calls are being made to crime stoppers especially from Nevis and based on the calls, three cases were opened and are being investigated”. He said that the public has been cooperating more with the police and that has led to the reduction in crime. He also indicated that the police force now has the ability to track and trace bullets. According to Walwyn, bullets that have been collected from crime scenes can now be traced to specific firearms that the police have taken off of the streets.
Walwyn further indicated that on Nevis police have confiscated two (2) firearms and those weapons have been tied to four (4) homicides committed last year. He further stated that one person has already been charged with two (2) of the murders; and police are waiting to charge another person.
The Commissioner also advised persons to isolate themselves from trouble. He stated that he did not suppress any information related to policing and crime in the Federation. This he claimed is contrary to what one might hear. He indicated that if a crime is committed within the Federation it will be on Facebook. He advised persons that if they do not want their pictures plastered on Facebook, then they should not commit any crimes.
Walwyn continued, “Things have changed in St. Kitts- Nevis and things will continue to change but we need one more component. We need the community to step forward and turn back crime”.
The Commissioner said that there are homicides that could be solved, but the witnesses to those murders do not wish to give statements to the police. “You cannot let these people intimidate you. This is your community. Let us put them away and keep these scum from off of the streets”, he said.
In closing the Commissioner insisted that he is here to serve the Government and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.