PM serious about security in SVG

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is taking the matter of security in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with the utmost seriousness.

He emphasised this last Tuesday at the opening of the new Biabou Police Station.

Dr. Gonsalves, a lawyer by profession, underlined his government’s priority of maintaining law and order.{{more}}

“The first business of a government is to put measures in place to protect the citizens, to defend our territorial integrity, to maintain law and order, to ensure that peace and tranquility reigns in the land,” Dr. Gonsalves stated.

He mentioned things needed in order for the nation to be safe.

“Before we provide jobs for people, people must be safe. Before we provide education, the citizens must be able to go about their lawful duties in peace. Before we provide a road, farmers must be able to meet their produce and livestock as they left them. These are vital matters,” the Prime Minister outlined.

He took issue with those who did not agree with government’s attention to the police and their requirements.

For him the only persons who do not like improvements in security “are those who have a vested interest in criminality and worthlessness and vagabondry.”

Dr. Gonsalves noted that even though the criminals may not be pleased with the efforts being undertaken to reduce crime, “You must be happy that the government is doing something to build the resources, to strengthen law and order and protect the peace and well being of this country.”

He pointed out however that “there are more law-abiding citizens than worthless ones.

“It is the business of the government to have a Police Force, a legal system and a social system in place so that we give the criminals and the vagabonds absolutely no space,” he added.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that there were “good lawyers about the place doing their job.”

He wanted to be certain that “when the Police charge someone, the evidence is strong enough to be tested and that the Police will get it right and the Magistrate or the jury will get it right, convict them on the evidence, to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.”

As far as Dr. Gonsalves was concerned: “You have to take a hard line with the criminals.”

He assured listeners that having served in the defense of many criminals for 20 years previously: “I am the lawyer for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and I defending your rights.

“I don’t know of any person who has come to the office of Prime Minister in the history of this country who understands criminals more than me. That is why I am using that knowledge which I have acquired to fight them, Dr. Gonsalves said.

He mentioned that having a good police force was something that persons who break the law were afraid of.

“What the criminals are most worried about is that you have a good Police Force and a community which is communion with the Police force and helping the Police force so that you could catch them when they commit their criminal acts,” the Prime Minister assured.

He spoke of the need for proper judicial officers and laws.

“You can have the jail, you could have the law, you could have the judge or the Magistrate, but you have to catch them first. That is why you have the Police which is in the front line in fighting crime and criminals, that is why we are providing the resources to build up the police and the facilities for the Police,” the Prime Minister added.