By Steve Thomas
Observer Nevis Editor
(Charlestown, Nevis) – Premier Hon. Joseph Parry threw down the gauntlet at a public ceremony Tuesday, calling on the federal government to step up its efforts to battle crime on Nevis. His remarks came less than 12 hours after a man was shot to death only blocks from the scene of his speech.
“I’m sending a challenge to the federal government to do something,” Mr. Parry said. “In the end, everyone has a responsibility.”
The event was the handing-over of 23 Kevlar body armor vests to the Nevis contingent of the police force. The vests were procured from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police by members of the Nevis Anti-Crime Initiative.
During the ceremony, Mr. Parry spoke of crime and the government’s response.
“I’m a little disappointed in the kind of support the police in Nevis have gotten from the federal government. It is not good,” he said.
Many of the crimes committed on Nevis are done by people from St. Kitts who come to Nevis and go back when they’re finished, Mr. Parry said. To help control this, the premier said, surveillance cameras are needed.
Mr. Parry called on the community to take a hard line against offenders.
“It ends in the community,” he said. Referring to young men involved in crime, Mr. Parry said, “I believe we have to get tough with these boys. We’ve got to deal with them. We’ve got to stop mollycoddling them. . . They have no respect for human life.”
He mentioned two specific areas of concern.
“We need to do something about drugs,” Mr. Parry said. Then he called on police to after what he termed “houses of pleasure.”
“Do something about it. It’s disgraceful,” he said.
If crime is not brought under control, the impact will be felt, he said.
“The tourists will go. The investors will go. Then Nevis will regress,” he said.
Photo shows Premier Hon. Joseph Parry (left) presenting a Kevlar vest to Superintendent Samuel Seabrookes.
