Opposition leader calls for transparency in relation to gun seizures and gang program
Leader of the Opposition, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas has called for transparency and accountability from Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris into allegations that gang members are being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to stop commit crimes as well as for turning in guns and ammunition to the police.
“The government’s attempts to hide what is happening is what is fueling greater speculation on the part of our citizens at home and abroad on this matter,” said Dr Douglas in response to a question from a national who resides in California, USA.
Dr Douglas said while he does not know if payments are being made, “the government has not spoken to this particular matter either truthfully, openly and clearly to the citizens of St Kitts and Nevis.”
“We in the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party are totally in favour of finding long-term employment opportunities for all our citizens including those who might have led a life of crime now and in the past. We of the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party are talking about sustainable employment opportunities for our young people, especially those, who, for whatever reason might have turned to a life of crime and also those who have blazed the trail and continue to do well in their academic pursuits in our primary, secondary and tertiary-level education opportunities provided, He told listeners.
Dr. Douglas is of the view that if the Team Unity Government is paying criminals to stop committing crimes the government must say so and bring into being the necessary conversation and discussion among the citizens and stakeholder groups.
“If this is a programme of paying violent gang members money to stop committing crime, then we all need to know because the money is coming from the taxpayers of St Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr Douglas, who made it absolutely clear that if that is what it is “we must know where in the government is this programme based.”
“Is it in the Office of the Prime Minister or is it in the Office of the Minister of National Security? Who are the facilitators of this programme? Who are the programme managers? What is the role of the Development Bank of St Kitts and Nevis in this particular programme? What is the role of the Bank? Is it that we are having for example, monies being paid from the Office of the Prime Minister or from the Ministry of National Security into the Development Bank and then the monies are disbursed from the Development Bank or is it that it is coming from the Treasury? We need to know and we demand answers not only as citizen of St Kitts and Nevis but as Members of the Parliament of St Kitts and Nevis,” Dr Douglas said.
On Tuesday, August 13, Police indicated that they had confiscated 30 guns and assorted ammunition from gang members, as part of an ongoing peace initiative. The announcement has not been met with concerted praise for the lawmen. The revelation by the Police has sparked a firestorm of questions in relation to accountability.