Members from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) met with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) to discuss the way forward, as it relates to crime in their federation.

“The meeting with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce is further testimony of our implementation of our six-point plan particularly, as it relates to our engagement with major stakeholders and our collaboration strategies,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vaughan Henderson. “In our six point plan, we specifically stated that we are going to engage the business community.”

Richard Boon, Managing Director of Timothy Beach Resort gave some insight as it relates to crime and his business.

“Over the years we have had some difficulty with crime, but over the last six months, there is a visible decline,” he stressed, while adding that the police has had a greater presence in the area. “With the six-point plan that is going to be implemented, I believe that honest folks can relax and the criminal elements need to watch out because their day is done.”

Vice President of the CIC and counsel to Mexico, Jose Rosa, thanked Acting Commissioner Stafford Liburd, for arranging several.”We in the private sector are glad about all the efforts and we believe it is going in the right direction,” he said. “We need to give some time for those plans to be implemented. As for the private sector, we are going to work together with the police, making sure the plan is implemented.”

Vice President Rosa said he is aware that crime has been a concern, not only for the private sector, but for the entire community and expressed his confidence in the police for having a strong plan and a strong team.

ACP Henderson noted that the discussions with the CIC were fruitful and timely, and believes that the initiatives and discussion points outlining how law enforcement will collaborate with the business community, can work together to not only restore public confidence, but have meaningful and substantial strategies to eliminate the scourge of crime.

“The buy-in we have gotten from the business community is super,” he said, and confirmed that they have showed nothing less than full support for the six-point plan. “With this holistic approach, the RSCNPF is very optimistic that we will have better results in the not too distant future.”

In many instances, the Chamber has come forward in assisting the police with resources of various sorts. The CIC has always been there and they have committed; they have given the force their word that they will continue to assist in the fight against crime.

Also present at the meeting was United Kingdom Consultant Dave King, President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Damion Hobson, Director of Operations at Timothy Beach Resort, Shelda Webster and Emile Ferdinand QWF, Partner at Kelsick, Wilkin and Ferdinand.