Across the Caribbean, crime and violence remain pervasive challenges, exacerbated by poorly designed programmes that incentivise temporary truces without addressing systemic issues. St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago have all implemented initiatives aimed at curbing violent crime, yet only one nation appears to have found a sustainable path forward. While Barbados’ National Peace Programme (NPP) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Resilience and Inclusive Peace Project (TRIP) have mirrored the flaws of St. Kitts and Nevis’ former Peace Programme, the current administration under Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has taken a radically different and successful approach.
Through the introduction of the ELEVATE initiative and the Citizen Security Secretariat, St. Kitts and Nevis is leading the way with practical, transparent, and community-focused solutions.
The Failures of “Pay-to-Behave” Models
Under former Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, the St. Kitts and Nevis Alternative Lifestyle Pathway Programme (ALPP), commonly refered to as the Peace Programme, was launched in 2018. At its core, the programme sought to pay known criminal actors to maintain a truce. Initially, the approach seemed effective, with a reduction in homicides, however, allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption undermined its integrity.
Dr. Drew, who assumed office in 2022, described the previous programme as a vehicle for “racketeering in the worst of ways.” A forensic audit revealed that tens of millions of dollars were funnelled through the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis with minimal oversight. Dr. Drew vowed to replace this flawed initiative with a transparent and impactful alternative.
Barbados’ National Peace Programme (NPP), launched in April 2023, followed a similar trajectory. Spearheaded by Corey Lane, Minister of State for Crime Prevention, the NPP aimed to reduce crime by providing resources such as funeral benefits, housing assistance, and mentorship for wide cross section of the society includint at-risk youth. By the end of 2024, however, Barbados recorded 50 homicides—a 138% increase from 2023’s 21 making it the deadliest year on record.
A significant portion of those arrested for these homicides were young men averaging just 20 years old, many of them teenagers. Barbadian Criminologist Cheryl Willoughby described this trend as a “major concern.”
Adding to the programme’s challenges were allegations of financial irregularities. Investigations led by the Attorney General’s Office revealed that a senior prison officer received $150,000.00 for an inmate rehabilitation initiative, but $95,000.00 went unaccounted for.
The abrupt transfer of NPP Director, Akil Daley. after only eight months in office further fuelled suspicions of about the programme’s management.
Trinidad and Tobago’s TRIP faced even graver failures. Despite the initiative’s intentions, 2024 marked the country’s deadliest year, with 623 murders—a 3% increase from 2022’s 605 which was until now the most deadly in the country’s history. An estimated 42.6% of these homicides were gang-related and connected to organised crime. The nation aso witnessed unprecedented mass killings in 2024, including 33 double homicides and eight triple homicides. Women and children were not spared – 40 women and 10 children were murdered.
ELEVATE: A Transformational Approach in St. Kitts and Nevis
In stark contrast to these failing programmes, St. Kitts and Nevis has emerged as a beacon of hope. In December 2023, Prime Minister Dr. Drew’s Labour administration launched ELEVATE, a comprehensive initiative that empowers individuals through education, training, and entrepreneurship, offering a sustainable alternative to compensating criminal actors to refrain from illegal activity.
ELEVATE operates across three phases:
- Training and Certification
Participants gain skills in high-demand fields such as information technology, construction, and healthcare. Personal development courses in communication, time management, and teamwork ensure a holistic approach to empowerment. - Contracting for Projects
This phase equips participants with knowledge about project management and tendering, enabling them to bid for public and private sector contracts. - Entrepreneurship
Participants receive training to start and manage their businesses, fostering independence and long-term success.
To ensure transparency, all participants are required to register with Social Security Board, providing long-term benefits and eliminating opportunities for misuse of funds.
Naeemah Hazelle, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, highlighted the government’s commitment to empowering at-risk individuals, stating, “The ELEVATE programme places a strong emphasis on creating opportunities for accountability and growth. Participants will be encouraged to take ownership of their actions and actively pursue personal and professional development.”
Citizen Security Secretariat: A Holistic Crime Prevention Model
In August 2024, Dr. Drew’s administration launched the Citizen Security Secretariat, adopting a public health perspective to address crime. The 90-Day Campaign Against Crime and Violence was launched in September and achieved staggering results:
- A 70% decrease in homicides.
- A 20% reduction in overall reported crimes.
These achievements underscore the effectiveness of the Drew administration’s all-of-society approach to crime prevention, which contrasts sharply with the short-term fixes seen in other Caribbean nations.
The Lessons from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago’s experiences highlight the perils of relying on programmes that pay criminals for temporary truces. Despite their intentions, these initiatives always fail to address root causes of crime and violence such as poverty, lack of education, and limited opportunities.
Barbados’ NPP faced backlash from figures such as Ralph Thorne KC, who accused the government of using taxpayer funds to “pay killers and criminals to keep the peace.”
Similar criticisms have been levied against TRIP in Trinidad and Tobago, where the alarming rise in homicides culminated in a State of Emergency being declared on 30th December 2024. Trinidad and Tobago has since announced that they too intend to adopt the public health approach to crime and violence that has been successfully implemented in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Why ELEVATE and Citizen Security Work
Unlike the programmes in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, ELEVATE and the Citizen Security Secretariat tackle crime through systemic change. By investing in education, skills training, strong social support initiatives and economic empowerment, these initiatives support the efforts of law enforcement to address the root causes of violence. The transparency embedded in ELEVATE ensures accountability, while the Citizen Security Secretariat’s public health approach fosters community resilience.
St. Kitts and Nevis’ innovative strategies under Dr. Terrance Drew’s leadership demonstrate that sustainable crime prevention is possible. By rejecting the flawed model of paying persons who lead deviant lifestyles to behave themselves and embracing transparency, empowerment, and holistic intervention, the nation offers a roadmap for other Caribbean countries grappling with the scourge of crime and violence.
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