Dr Terrance Drew launches 90-day campaign to curb violence and crime, calls for collaborative effort

The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, who also serves as Minister of National Security, has officially launched the 90-day Campaign Against Violence and Crime. This initiative was set in motion at the CUNA Conference Centre on Friday, September 06, 2024.

This campaign has been initiated to address one of the crucial issues that the country is currently fighting. This event brought together representatives from various sectors, including political leaders, academic institutions, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, and the sports community.

All the attendees came together with a similar vision to tackle crime and violence in St Kitts and Nevis.

While addressing the guests present at the event, Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew highlighted the importance of curbing the violence and crime in the nation. He stated to fight against the demons a collaboration beyond the political and societal boundaries is needed.

PM Drew further shared that this problem needs a unified effort and a collective responsibility. He highlighted the presence of the leadership of the political parties in St Kitts and Nevis, including the People’s Action Movement (PAM), People’s Labour Party (PLP), and the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP).

Further emphasizing the importance of data collection to solve the crime problem in St Kitts and Nevis, PM Drew noted, “When I look at the data and examine it from my own professional background, there is a lot of hope right here. With the data, we can define very precisely what the problem is, and if you can diagnose the problem, it gives you a great opportunity to come up with the solution.”

He further stated that the government is looking forward to create an inter-ministerial secretariat that will be tasked to engage with people of all sectors of society, who want to positively contribute to resolving the matter.

PM Drew further mentioned that the 90-day Campaign Against Violence and Crime will include several activities that will engage the entire society. PM Terrance Drew stated that the government has pledged not only to address the crime when the incidents rise but also not to take it as a reactive measure when needed and to make it a sustained priority in national policymaking.

In addition, Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew requested all the citizens of the nation to unite and fight against crime, he also mentioned that it is important to keep citizens security as the top priority.

He ended his address by stating that addressing the crime and violence needs collective efforts by each and every human present in St Kitts and Nevis, it is only the collective effort that would ensure the safety and security of the nation’s citizens.

Moving ahead, a presentation by Dr. Randy Sierprasad from USAID was featured which offered an analysis of gang activity and violence in St Kitts and Nevis, this data was derived and presented in an in-depth form free from government’s influence.

The presentation provided a clear picture of the ongoing situation in the country and was much needed to formulate long term solutions and policy making.

Continuing the discussion, Isalean Phillip, Senator and Co-Chair of the Task Force on Citizen Security, took the stage and called for national unity in the fight against crime.

She emphasized the need for citizens to reject not only overt acts of violence but also the normalized forms of violence that occur within homes, communities, and workplaces.

Additionally, guest presenter Dr Jeanita Richardson, a Professor of Public Health and Policy at Windsor University, gave a presentation and the data shared helped to strengthen the position of the Government of St Kitts and Nevis in addressing crime and violence from a public health perspective.

She shared that crime and violence are similar to disease and have equal risk factors as poverty and other problems in society. This should be viewed as a public health issue as it has similar consequences.

This 90-day initiative, led by the Government of St Kitts and Nevis, has been launched to unite the nation and address the root causes of crime and violence through a whole-of-society approach. This campaign will include a series of activities and will involve people from every sector.