St Kitts and Nevis PM wants ‘excellence’ from police

Timothy Harris spoke at commissioner’s lecture

Friday, 22nd December 2017

The prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis has told police officers in the federation he wants “excellence” to be the standard in their work.

Speaking as a guest at the final lecture of 2017 from the commissioner of police, Harris said: “I will say let excellence be your standard. Excellence in what you do.”

His words come at a time when St Kitts and Nevis seems stuck in a cycle of violence, with a string of firearm incidents – the most recent on Wednesday, where a man was lucky to escape a hail of bullets with only injuries.

Harris assured the officers that the government invested in them heavily because it wanted them to succeed.

“And I chose the word invested carefully, rather than put money into the police, because when you invest you’re looking for a return and what I am looking for is a peace dividend.”

He added that police officers of all ranks have been going beyond their “call of duty day in day out without counting hours nor convenience.”

“The enthusiasm in the job must always be there. If you are no longer enthusiastic about crime fighting and law enforcement you should give it up, find another passion, because we want people, who at all times are prepared to do their best.”