St Kitts National Security Social Intervention programmes get support of Taiwan

The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) injected a financial boost to the Ministry of National Security’s social Intervention programmes, which fall under the ministry’s wider Crime Reduction and Prevention Strategy.

Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Tom Lee, presented a US $250,000 cheque to the Government that will facilitate the continuing of two significant projects.

The first initiative focuses on preparing sixth grade students from all primary schools to make a smooth transition to secondary schools by improving social skills and character development. Crime Reduction Specialist Dr. Neals Chitan is also spearheading a programme called “Men of Integrity,” which offers special training sessions to men in society to become mentors in their respective communities.

Friday’s donation will also be used in support of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force’s community policing initiatives, which involve the Teen and Police Service (TAPS) Academy, as well as the successful Explorers Community Youth Clubs.

In making the presentation to Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, Ambassador Lee said Taiwan is delighted to assist St. Kitts and Nevis in its crime prevention strategies.

“We also know that in all countries in the world, young people are very important—they are our future; they are our hope” Ambassador Lee said. “We need to make sure they will not be affected by influences and as a strong ally of St. Kitts and Nevis we are very pleased to respond to your needs.”

Also present during Friday’s handing over ceremony were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Osmond Petty; National Security Advisor, (ret.) Major General Stewart Saunders, and Deputy Financial Secretary, Calvin Edwards.

Prime Minister Harris, who is the Minister of National Security, expressed gratitude to the Republic of China (Taiwan) for its quick response to this important mandate of the Ministry of National Security.

Through its social intervention programmes, the ministry is hoping to help children develop the right attitudes and temperaments by having law enforcement officers act as their mentors and support systems. It is also their hope that through these programmes young people will also develop greater interests in careers in law enforcement.

“We expect that the positive spin-off would be a more disciplined young group of people growing up in St. Kitts and Nevis,” the prime minister said. “We see some of that being exhibited through our Explorers programme, where we were able to bring the largest number of persons of any participating group on the Independence Parade to the fore and all of us were very pleased by their performance, their endurance and we wish that more young persons would become involved.”

Currently, the Ministry of National Security has launched Explorer’s groups in the Mol-Phil (Molineux and Phillips Village), St. Paul’s, St. Peters, Shadwell and Cayon.