Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis: Prime Minister and the Minister of National Security of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis – Dr Terrance Drew, has recently comprised a National Security Taskforce to handle the problems related to Crime and Violence as the Public Health Issue. Prime Minister launched this new initiative to tackle the cases of violence and crime with different perspectives on public health issues.
According to recent updates, under the leadership of Prime Minister Drew, the government of St Kitts and Nevis has been keeping up with new measures to maintain law and order to ensure the safety and security of the people. The issue of national security is among the top priorities of the St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party Government, said Prime Minister Drew.
In his remarks, PM Drew also mentioned that the government is committed to providing better law enforcement facilities to the residents of the Twin Island Federation.
The reports stated that the launched national security taskforce includes the Prime Minister, who is also acting as the Chairperson, Dr Terrance Drew, the Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Social Development, Dr Izben Williams, and senior management officials from across the Government and the Prime Minister’s Office.
It has been reported that the launched initiative will be mandated and led by the Professor and Head of the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Medical Ethics and a renowned Consultant Psychiatrist and Founder, President of the Ripple Institute – Dr Izben Williams. He will accompany the Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Development at Windsor University School of Medicine.
Furthermore, during the meeting of the Regional Symposium held in April 2023 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to address Crime and Violence from a perspective of Public Health Issue – The Crime Challenge, Dr Williams was the keynote speaker who addressed its details and other information’s.
During his address at the symposium, Williams noted that crime and violence could be prevented with the help of newly developed measures, tools, and knowledge. He stated that to control crime and violence in the country, “We must harness our strength and courage to initiate this and face it up reversing the trend.”
He added that violence is connected to the issues of public health, and such words like “violence” and “health” were not so often used together around 40 years ago.
The government’s elected team has been working on developing scientifically proven comprehensive action plans to put in motion and sustain a society of non-violence and crime within the country, reports added.
On his part, Terrance Drew, the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, has said that true social and economic development reflects in a country’s societal peace and harmony. This would also help in achieving the goal of transforming St Kitts and Nevis into a sustainable island state, PM Drew outlined.
A holistic approach is set to be followed by the initiative incorporating national security, education, health, social development and national security.
As per the latest information, children between the age of 6 to 12, along with 13 to 19 years of age, will be targeted to reform their mindsets and thinking by strengthening their conflict resolution skills, analytical skills, and critical thinking through self-esteem boost.
