Team Unity representatives continue to deny that gang members are being paid to maintain a cease-fire truce in St. Kitts and Nevis, and that they were paid to turn in more than 30 guns to authorities.
PAM candidate Jonel Powell, while a guest on Freedom FM’s Issues program, said however that he is not opposed to such an initiative, if that’s what it takes to end the gun violence.
“If there was an incentive that hey, bring in the guns and I pay you X I would support it because that’s 30 less guns on the street. And when you look at the guns it’s some big machine guns and shotguns etc, so I am happy. And if that is what it takes, continue to do it. Thank God we have a fiscally responsible government that can support such a notion, but the fact of the matter is whether there’s an amnesty program or not the work of law enforcement authorities is reaping benefits, we are seeing improvements. Look at the crime rate, the murder rate, we now have 30 more guns off the street I don’t see who would want to argue against that.”
Against that same backdrop, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Youth Shawn Richards said it’s a small price to pay if that was indeed the case of remuneration for the hand-in of illegal weapons.
“Even if someone has been paid to turn in a fire arm, whatever that person has been paid cannot be worth more than the life of any individual here in St. Kitts and Nevis. The fact is that over the years you have 20 something, 30 something persons being murder per year. Families are paying a price for it, the nation is paying a price for it, the health system is paying a price for it.
“You cannot put a price on those things.”