Local News

28th June, 2018

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (KYSSFM) – A clarion call for children to be kept away from the upcoming music festival has come from one of the federation’s most prominent paediatricians.

In his latest commentary, ‘Music Festival: Not For Children’, former Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Patrick Martin, pointed to the possible dangers of children attending the three day festival as well as other events intended for adults.

He also called on authorities to be mobilised and on the lookout for minors who attend these largely adult-only events.

“Children must be kept out of the party! Therefore, as a matter of duty, the Police and the Probation and Child Protection Service must be mobilised to intercept unaccompanied minors and put their parents ‘on the bench’. The same treatment must be meted out to parents who actually present at the Music Festival gate (as well as “White Sands”, “The Strip” and cinema) with ticket and child in hand plus milk bag and stroller”.

Dr. Martin said it is high time the hazardous practice of exposing the country’s youngest, most vulnerable citizens to adult entertainment be interdicted.

Expressing kudos to the Music Festival Committee for daring to be different and issuing wise advice to parents to keep their children out of the party, Dr. Martin pointed out that the perils of children attending adult-entertainment events are well-known.

“They include high energy, ear splitting music and exploitative lyrics. There is also the likelihood of children being ensnared by paedophiles bearing drinks or other gifts. We are a country where child molesters abound,” wrote Martin.

Mindful of the fact that the St. Kitts Music Festival is a GDP-stimulating brand built on the anvil toil and tax, he continued that, “Nothing is more brand-destroying than a stampede or similar “crush event”. Children will be the first to perish under foot and from hypoxia. No artiste and no committee member would want their good name linked to such a preventable tragedy.”

Additionally, the his commentary stated that research and experience have established a direct link between unsupervised children of negligent parents and the Federation’s ongoing struggles with youth anti-social behaviour.

“Nine year olds are in gangs whose gunshots are “popping” despite the unprecedented and much-touted millions spent on citizen security,” said Dr. Martin.

He went on that desperation has seemingly led to clutching at overseas consultant straws.

“One way chosen to assuage individual and communal anguish is to parade Grade 6 and other students as proof of existing behaviour-massaging programs. However, the wholesale importation and unfiltered implementation of social interventions that reportedly worked in a different culture is spitting in the wind,” said Dr. Martin.

He added: “What the Music Festival Committee has hopefully ignited is a defined, local approach that has teeth. There are laws on the books that prohibit adults from endangering the lives and welfare of children dating back to the 1970s (perhaps before). However, interventions like curfews were called “Communism.” Fear of criticism is perhaps the biggest factor in government indecision in the face of mushrooming threats to life, limb, property and the economy.”

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26th June, 2018

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (KYSSFM) – Two years on, the shooting that led to the untimely death of Dominica-born police constable Brian Pacquette, is still causing his family great pain.

Pacquette’s mother, Faith Taurance, and other family members in Dominica are still pleading to the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force for compensation and justice.

In an impassioned social media post, Ms. Taurance shared the details of her son’s stint with the police and the days leading up to his death.

She wrote, “On this day, 23rd of June 2016, 2 years now, my dear son, Brian J. Pacquette, who was a police officer in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force for 10 years (was) shot on duty. He did not die on duty. He was shot in his right thigh on that day. He suffer a lot and also, he fight to hold on for his life. He fight for 3 weeks to keep up. He was a fighter and try to hold on as long as he could, but he went to sleep on the 18th of July 2016.”

She disclosed that since her son’s passing, the family is yet to receive word on the status of his case and added that the family deserves answers.

“All I need to know is my son due to any compensation for his 10 years of service to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force? Can anyone tell me? I, the mother of Brian J. Pacquette, sisters and brother would like to know. It’s time and it is almost 2 years now since he passed away and no answers from no one. Can anyone help me? We need answers and still waiting to know what really happen to him and also his belongings. Please help us anyone out there. And most of all you guys, his friends know him as Bri Pac or Brio, Plummer Pacquette. Please, I, the mother and his sisters, brother, ask for your help. Thank you.”

Constable Pacquette was shot in his right leg on June 23rd on 2016 while he and a colleague constable carried out what should have been the routine apprehension of a suspect in .

Pacquette was flown to Trinidad for medical treatment however doctors were unable to save his leg which was then amputated. A few days after the operation Constable Pacquette died.

Meanwhile, in May this year, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force issued a wanted bulletin for former officer, 24-year-old Dijon Warner in connection with the shooting death of Constable Pacquette.

A native of Conaree, Warner is wanted to answer the charge of the manslaughter of Brian Pacquette.

Constable Pacquette, who was given a full military funeral in Dominica, is interred at the Roseau Public Cemetery.

21ST June 2018

BASSETERRE, St. KITTS (KYSSFM) –

Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris is being urged to seek counsel from stakeholders in St. Kitts and Nevis, including the members of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, to tackle the crime crisis which plaguing the nation.

On Wednesday, Chairman of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Dr. Terrance Drew said as opposed to being a personal or political issue, the matter of escalating crime is one that impacts everyone and which the community should all be concerned about finding a solution to.

“We all have to do our part”, the SKNLP Chairman said regarding crime, adding that he is concerned over what he considers a lack of leadership from Prime Minister Harris on the issue.

Dr. Drew recalled comments he attributed to Dr. Timothy Harris prior the 2015 election in which the MP for Constituency 7 lay blame for an upsurge in crime at the feet of the former Labour Administration

Drew also stated that Prime Minister Harris promised the voters that crime would’ve decreased by 50% with a change in government.

“This was the total opposite” Dr. Drew went on, noting that some crimes have increased by more than 50%, as the Federation is now averaging three murders a month.

21st June, 2018

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (KYSSFM) – Customs officer, Travonne Bryant and his brother, Port Officer, Tivonne Bryant who were arrested in Nevis last week in connection with the discovery of drugs, a fire arm and ammunition now are facing a whopping 23 charges laid against them by both the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Department.

On June 14th, the Bryant brothers, residents of Brick Kiln, Nevis, were held by police after a quantity of cocaine, a .357 revolver and matching ammunition were discovered concealed inside of a DVD player and a colouring set at the at the Vance Amory International Airport.

The men have since been formally arrested and charged by the police for the offences of possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, smuggling, possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Travonne Bryant was also given thirteen charges by the customs and excise department: four counts of importation of a restricted good not in accordance with the conditions and restrictions imposed, four counts of importation of a quantity of goods packed in a manner intended or appearing to deceive a customs officer, four counts of attempted fraudulent evasion and count of removal of goods from a customs controlled area.

To date this year, police have confiscated sixteen illegal fire arms and scores of rounds of ammunition from the country’s streets

21st June, 2018

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (KYSSFM) – A political cease fire.

That’s what hon. Konris Maynard is calling on the political actors in in St. Kitts and Nevis to be mature enough to agree to so that meaningful discussions can be had in order to find real solutions to the country’s crime crisis.

On Wednesday, the boldness of a recent spate of gun related crimes reached an all-time high when just before 7:30am a lone gunman opened fire on a male target in front of the Irishtown Primary School.

Scores of stunned students along with their teachers, passers-by and residents went scampering for cover as a hail of bullets flew.

Fortunately, no one was injured.

Hon. Maynard says, the extremities criminals now go to without fear of consequence is a clear signal to stakeholders across the country that they must put petty differences aside to come up with a definite solution to a shared problem.

20th June, 2018

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (KYSSFM) – Hon. Konris Maynard has expressed his own shock and horror over the recent shootings in St. Kitts and Nevis.

On Wednesday afternoon, he commented on the murder of 33-year old Ronaldo Jeffers who was gunned down by a bicycle riding gun man around 8pm on 16th June while operating his bus in College Street Ghaut and today’s shooting outside the Irishtown Primary School.

What is exceedingly alarming, according to the West Basseterre member of parliament, is that perpetrators no longer seem to have any regard for when or where they commit their crimes.

Mr. Maynard added that the present crime crisis is a reflection of the leadership of the country and of the government which has been unable to assure a safe and secure environment for residents and citizens.

He also cautioned of the danger of politicizing crime which impacts everyone regardless of their party affiliations.

20th June, 2018

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (KYSSFM) – Police are yet to officially comment on reports of gun shots which rang out near the Irishtown Primary School today.

Residents close by reported hearing about eight shots ring out just before 7:30am when the area was packed with children on their way to school and others already on the school compound.

Information reaching SKN NEWS now suggests the person responsible was a lone gunman who drove up in front of the school on the side closest to the Gardens Housing Development, where he then gave chase to, and opened fire on, another man.

The person believed to be the target of the shooting escaped and no bystanders were injured during the reckless act.

Witnesses said the vehicle the gun man drove up in to make his daring daylight attack entered the area from the Bay Road and escaped in the direction of the Irishtown Health Centre.

Parents who rushed back to the school after reports of the shooting spread said that their children, many of whom witnessed the incident, were seriously traumatized by the event. Several children, and teachers alike, are said to have sought cover under classroom desks.

Like all other schools across the Federation, students at the Irishtown Primary School were just preparing to enter class to start the day’s final term and Test of Standards examinations.

20th June, 2018

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (KYSS FM) – There is still much to be done in the fight against crime in St. Kitts and Nevis.

This was the position expressed by Federal Opposition Leader, Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas as he hosted his weekly radio show ‘Ask The Leader’ on Kyss Fm on Tuesday 19th June 2018.

Underscoring the fact that criminal activity in the country has rapidly increased, Dr. Douglas said Prime Minister, Dr. Timothy Harris’ government must keep its promise the people to invest significant time and resources in devising ways to decrease crime.

Remarking that crime is a major factor in the breakdown of society, the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party Leader also stressed that additional support must be provided to strengthen vital public and social institutions including families.

“The people need help,” he said, adding “We need to make sure that our young people are gainfully engaged rather than being given idle time to get into the wrong company.”

He stressed that the Federation’s people must show more respect for themselves and each other as rampant crime suggests that a tremendous lack of respect for human life has spread throughout the society.