ST. KITTS-Government concerned over spike in gun-related crimes.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC—Prime Minister Dr. Terrence Drew is promising to make “the necessary resources at our disposal available to the security forces to combat this threat and restore peace to our communities” as the twin-island Federation deals with the recent upsurge in gun violence.

A government statement said that Prime Minister Drew, also the Minister of National Security, convened an emergency meeting with the high command of the police and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force “to address this pressing issue.

“The meeting…was pivotal in reviewing the homicides and formulating a robust strategy to curb this alarming trend,” the statement said, giving no details regarding the number of gun-related killings here in recent weeks.

But it noted that Prime Minister Drew had expressed “his grave concern over the surge in gun-related incidents, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens.”

Drew told the meeting that protecting citizens is paramount and “we will make the necessary resources at our disposal available to the security forces to combat this threat and restore peace to our communities.”

The statement said that during the meeting, the police and the Defence Force presented a comprehensive analysis of the recent incidents, identifying patterns and potential underlying causes.

“The discussion was focused on immediate and long-term measures, including increased patrols, strategic deployments, enhanced intelligence operations, and community engagement initiatives.”

Prime Minister Drew is reported to have “reaffirmed the government’s dedication to a swift and decisive response to gun violence” and that the “meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing assessments and adjustments to the strategy to ensure its effectiveness.”

The statement said, “Updates on the implemented measures and their outcomes will be communicated to the public in due course.”