BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, May 13, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister Dr the Honourable Timothy Harris said his Team Unity-led administration will continue to inject the necessary resources into the national security infrastructure on the sister island of Nevis as his Government fully understands that “insecurity anywhere in the Federation, is insecurity everywhere in the Federation.”
“In keeping with our view that we are one nation, the support by my Government for national security projects in Nevis has been at the highest level. It is important to note the earnest efforts of the Team Unity Government to enhance security in Nevis, where in many cases, it was lacking,” Prime Minister Harris said when he addressed the nation on Tuesday, May 11 edition of Leadership Matters.
Prime Minister Harris stated that “My Government has contributed $2.4 million towards the construction and furnishing of the Newcastle Police Station and we recently supplied furniture for the station from the Central Purchasing Unit in Basseterre. In November 2019, with the support from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), an Agreement was signed with VIVOTEK at about $5 million to provide cameras and other accessories, as well as the equipment and furniture for the expansion of the CCTV Command Center in Nevis.”
Dr. Harris, the Federal Minister responsible for National Security, further noted that St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, at the request of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), has over the last four-plus years maintained a physical presence on Nevis to support the work of the Police there.
And according to Prime Minister Harris, the joint efforts between the Police and Defence Force soldiers have helped to contain and reduce major crimes in Nevis.
The prime minister added, “The Ministry of National Security currently has for consideration and approval, estimates for repairs to stations in Gingerland, Cotton Ground, Butler’s and Bath Barracks, and the Division Headquarters in Charlestown. The estimated cost of these projects is approximately $3 million.”
As a result of stepped up recruiting efforts and internal restructuring, the Ministry of National Security has also increased the number of law enforcement officers now serving on Nevis.