St.Kitts-Nevis Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Premier in the Nevis Island Administration the Hon. Mark Brantley is lauding his Nevis Island Administration for taking the bold and necessary step in having a contingent of the St.Kitts-Nevis Defense Force being based in Nevis for the first time in almost 4 decades.
In a statement first posted on social media Brantley commented “Here in Nevis we continue to be plagued by incidences of crime which can be downright scary at times. There have been many pronouncements on both sides as to what is the best approach to tackling this problem.
I must therefore commend the Nevis Island Administration for having a contingent of members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defense Force (The Army) based here on the island for the first time since the 1970’s.
Brantley also outlined what was expected of the contingent while based on the island.
“Their purpose is to allow for more patrols and lend the all important assistance to the Police Force and already citizens are commenting on their patrols, increased viability and increased sense of security that is being felt on the ground. This is by no means the cure all since we are still being plagued by gun violence, but it is my hope and I’m sure the hope of the Nation that we will gradually see a decrease as we all work towards a better Federation for All,” said the Deputy Premier.
Brantley concluded his statement by congratulating the NIA for the bold step and lauding the efforts to tackle crime on the island.
“Again kudos to the NIA. It’s a step in the right direction,” concluded Brantley
The announcement came during an upsurge in violent crimes through out the federation and has been met with mixed reactions.
Nevisians and Kittitians alike have taken to social media to comment on the move.
One Face book post read
“Ok I am all for doing something to fight the crime but to do something that doesn’t make too much sense is not the answer. This sellout we have in Nevis is now putting the St. Kitts army in Nevis like an occupying force further reinforcing the image of Nevis as a colony of St. Kitts! I thought Eugene Walwyn and Joseph Parry were bad but it looks like we may have someone competing with them to be the all time sellout in Nevis history. He is proudly beating himself on the chest saying that the St Kitts army will be based in Nevis for the first time in almost 4 decades.”
Another reads
“The army has been on Nevis since Douglas and CG that’s the delta force,consist of both army and police people been saying for years the army dose no work and the police stretch too thin so I assume now there using them I don’t see nothing wrong with it they not going to be the ones investigating crimes the police will still do that but the need for man power is what I suspect they are there to really help with .”
” I’m wondering what its going to cost to have the army over on Nevis, and if that money could not be better spent training a serious crime fighting unit ….”
Nationals of the federation are alarmed as has the first 5 months of 2015 has seen 15 murders. In a recent press conference the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Hon Dr Timothy Harris, called on the nation to band together in the fight against crime.
Meanwhile former PM Dr Denzil Douglas during a recent press conference reminded the nation that while in opposition Team Unity had laid the responsibility for crime solely at the feet of the government yet now in government PM Harris is saying that the community needs to play a role in the fight.
Dr Douglas took PM Harris to task for firing the former Commissioner of Police Dr Cg Walwyn and to date not appointing a new Commissioner of Police.
Prime Minister Harris however is of the view there is a need for a unified approach within the police force. He said that team work will bring results. Dr Harris assured the nation that he has confidence in the team that has been built within the force.