The St, Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce acknowledged Wednesday that crime in the twin-island Federation has reached “a new and dangerous level with the recent murder of two police officers, which has elevated it to a direct attack on the law and on society by misguided young people with guns.”
In its first public statement on crime in three years, the private sector body said crime has been a major threat to the peace, stability and security of St. Kitts and Nevis and to the economy.
The Chamber said the gun and gang culture has grown alarmingly.
“The murder rate has been consistently high and the number and daring manner of armed robberies of businesses is growing,” said the Chamber.
It said the society through the security forces must in the immediate term aggressively and powerfully repel this attack and root out the perpetrators with all the lawful force required.
The chamber said law enforcement alone will not eradicate the problem in the long term.
“Strong action involving the entire society is badly needed to address the deep rooted causes Among the major causes are negative attitudes and anti-social behaviours resulting in a culture which has failed our young people, disconnect the from society and fuel the rise of the gun culture. These attitudes and behaviours include poor parenting and a lack of trust in law enforcement,” said the Chamber, adding: “The political tribalism which has pervaded the country for over 50 years without relief has also contributed to the problem. Crime has become another source of the blame game between politicians.”
In an apparent response to repeated statements by Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Timothy Harris that some EC$75 million has been allocated to fight crime, the Chamber expressed the view that “if this culture persists the problem will not be solved by more spending on law enforcement.”
“Law enforcement must play its critical role to repel the attack on society with all necessary force, but the society at the same time pursue the long-term solutions and persuade our people that our society can be much better than it currently is,” the chamber continued.
In a position sure to be welcomed by the opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), the Chamber said it proposes to establish a small but high-powered committee involving nominees of the political parties, civil society and youth as a matter of urgency to recommend a programme of solutions and action.
Some 40 key organisations will nominate the civil society representatives to serve on the committee and to agree its framework.