By Dave Kaiser
While the Federation has done reasonably well since becoming independent, increasing crime has held back economic development, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris M.P, J.P. told citizens celebrating the 33rd anniversary of St. Kitts and Nevis’s Independence on Sept. 19, 1983. During Independence activities on Monday, the Prime Minister emphasized criminal activities must be brought under control to enable the Federation to develop more quickly.
“Our inflation rate is at an all-time low, thanks in part to my government’s decision to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) from food, medicine and funeral expenses,” Prime Minister Dr. Harris said. “In addition, we now have a record low for the price for oil and gasoline products. Our foreign reserves are high. There are many on-going projects where those in need of jobs can find work.”
The Prime Minister pointed out that more than 200 businesses have benefited from the Government’s affordable, Fresh Start Loan Programme which has attempted to provide well needed financing for small and medium sized enterprises. During the next two years the Government expects to invest another $30 million into the Fresh Start Programme.
“Our housing programme will get started in earnest before year end bringing well needed housing solutions to our people most in need of them,” the Prime Minister predicted. “The future prospects are bright and encouraging. Several hotels are to come on stream shortly, adding well-paying jobs to the economy.”
Root out destructive influences
“Independence requires of us a higher standard of discipline, conduct, behaviour and service in order to mould the country we deserve for ourselves and that which we wish to bequeath to the generations to come,” Dr. Harris said. “A disciplined society must work to root out the destructive influences that retard our progress, besmirch our reputation and restrain the forward drive for prosperity for all. Crime, particularly violent crime, holds back our potential to excel. It adversely affects the investment climate and destroys job opportunities.”
“Over the last 20 years, the Prime Minister said, “the robust, comprehensive response to lawlessness has been absent. Hence our country’s record of homicides has been unacceptable. My government has pledged to protect our country by all means necessary and to reverse over time the disturbing trend of homicides and violent crimes.”
“Like every responsible citizen and resident, we want to eliminate violent crimes in the alleyways, the byways, highways and streets, in town and country,” he said. That is why this government has given the security forces their largest budgetary allocation. Additionally we have provided extra budgetary support for their operations. We have put in place an excellent team at the helm, we have buttressed their forensic resources. We have increased police training. We have expanded the K-9 Unit, we have provided enhanced telecommunications support and approved a Six point Plan and Strategic Plan 2016 to 2019.”
Outlining his plan, Prime Minister Dr. Harris said, “With 23 homicides for the year to date, we know that more must be done. We pledged that we would leave no stone unturned to keep our country safe. We will utilise all resources local, regional and international in our effort to uproot crime.”
Prime Minister Dr. Harris said he is pleased to advise that Cabinet, after consultation with the Royal Saint Christopher and Nevis Police Force, as well as with the St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, has sought the assistance of the RSS. The details of the operational engagement were worked out by the RSS, our own police High Command team led by Commissioner Ian Queeley, Lt. Colonel Patrick Wallace of the St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force and Permanent Secretary, Osmond Petty in the Ministry of National Security. Their presence will assist the police to make a further onslaught on crime and remove elements of crime – illegal guns, arms, ammunition and so on, from the hands of criminals.
“We ask for the full support of everyone to save lives,” Prime Minister Dr. Harris said. “By cooperating with the security forces, the lives we save may be our very own and that of our loved ones.”
The Prime Minister said security concerns were among the matters raised at a recent forum in the NEPAC which he attended with His Excellency, the Governor General Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton and Premier the Honourable Vance Amory.
“Our young people can play such an important role,” the Prime Minister explained. “I call upon you to not insult the pain, the daily torment and abject misery of our enslaved forefathers by using the freedom they never had, to make the wrong choices. Can you not hear the screams of pain, echoing across the winds? Not through their beatings, but because we turn on each other to rob, to kill and to seek revenge for slights we deem to be more important than the value of human life itself.”
The Prime Minister urged youth to rise up, rise above the criminality, choose dignity, and choose life because if we live by the sword, we die by the sword.”
Community support essential
“Last Friday we honoured our Five National Heroes and recalled how they had put “Country above Self,” Prime Minister Dr. Harris said. “I want to urge every citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis to make our country glorious and proud, by working together in unity, to achieve a greater good.”
“We should craft the future like an artist who has a vision in his mind of what he wants to create,” he said. “Artists will add colour, shape, and form; in the same way, this is how you should build your character, define your future, and consequently shape the future and legacy of this nation.
“It behoves all of us, as we seek to build a prosperous and stable nation, to ask ourselves the question: are we enablers or blockers? Do we make things happen, energise progress or do we take the path of laziness and mischief, submitting the common good of our country to the whims of our egos?”
The Prime Minister urged every man, woman and child, from the highest to the lowest, from every walk of life, to be courageous, to step outside of your comfort zone, to seek new challenges and be brave enough to take the difficult path, if that is what our nation requires. This means making decisions that are difficult and not shirking from the responsibility of doing so.
As the Greek philosopher Plato said:
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark: the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
“Those who saw the light championed the fight out of the darkness of slavery into emancipation. Colonialism could not dent the resolve of a free people to take their destiny into their own hands and to mould the country to their liking,” Prime Minister Dr. Harris concluded.
