Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis reports ZERO homicides in 1st week of 2024

Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis have remained free from any murder incidents in the first week of 2024, while other Caribbean countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Lucia, have each recorded brutal incidents. The numbers clearly state that the governments of both the island nations are successful in curbing the crime rate, especially homicides.Talking about this year, the Bahamas recorded a total of eight homicides in the first seven days, Trinidad and Tobago recorded 15, Saint Lucia recorded, Antigua and Barbuda and Turks and Caicos each recorded one incident.Meanwhile, Anguilla also recorded its first homicide on Monday, marking a shocking start of the year for the Caribbean region. If the comparison is to be made, Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis recorded just 14 and 31 homicides, respectively, in 2023. In addition to these two countries, Antigua and Barbuda has also remained a safe nation with just ten murders in 2023. Other Caribbean nations recorded a much higher number than this last year, which is as follows:

• St Vincent and the Grenadines - 55
• Saint Lucia - 75 
• Belize - 85
• Bahamas - 100 (approximately)
• Guyana - 150 (approximately)
• Trinidad and Tobago - 600 
• Jamaica - 1393
• Haiti - 2700 (approximately)

It is also to be noted that a famous travel publication named 'The Travel' ranked Guyana, Haiti and Jamaica among the top 5 dangerous cities to visit in the Caribbean.Meanwhile, about St Kitts and Nevis, the publication said that while crime on the island long made headlines, particularly the high murder rates, it has decreased across the country by over 60% in recent years. It added that visitors are safe nowadays during their vacation to the dual islands as the government of St Kitts and Nevis have doubled down on efforts to strengthen the security measures. On the other hand, the magazine did not even mention Dominica in the list of dangerous countries to visit in the Caribbean. The police officials on both these islands actively respond to the situation and take all measures to catch the suspects. Of the 14 murders that occurred in Dominica in 2023, seven have been solved, demonstrating the dedication and efficiency of the police force. Last year, the government of St Kitts and Nevis also introduced new measures to boost security, which included the instalment of CCTVs across the island and several other measures which were as follows:

• Commissioning a National Security Task Force 
• Increased presence of security forces across the island via various strategies 
• Further engagement of regional and international security experts to work with the security forces, bringing additional expertise and experience
• Strengthening the intelligence capabilities of the security forces
• Increase of the CCTV infrastructure islandwide
• Advancing evidence-gathering capabilities to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice