Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew, welcomed a high-level delegation from Anguilla on Monday morning for an in-depth knowledge exchange on the Federation’s crime reduction strategy, which has led to a 75% decline in violent crime and the lowest homicide rate in over 25 years.
Led by Anguilla’s Premier, Cora Richardson-Hodge, the visiting team included Her Excellency Julia Crouch, Governor of Anguilla; Tara Carter, Speaker of the House of Assembly; and other senior policymakers, law enforcement officials, and advisors. The engagement formed part of a regional initiative aimed at adopting successful, home-grown approaches to public safety.
During the interactive session, Prime Minister Drew presented the Federation’s innovative model, which treats violence as a public health crisis and integrates prevention, intervention, rehabilitation, and justice reform. He explained that the model is guided by data and evidence—not guesswork.
“This is not guesswork, this is science,” said Dr. Drew. “We applied public health principles to crime and violence. We address prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation with the same rigour, while strengthening our justice system to send a clear message of accountability.”
The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of cross-sector collaboration, including partnerships between government ministries, law enforcement, communities, and mental health professionals. This coordinated response, he said, has been instrumental in restoring public confidence and disrupting cycles of violence.
The Anguillan delegation expressed keen interest in adapting the Federation’s approach to suit their national context, highlighting the value of peer-to-peer learning among Caribbean nations.
Also present at the meeting were Attorney General Garth Wilkin, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Marcus Natta, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Glenroy Blanchette, who offered insights into the operational aspects of the model.
Prime Minister Drew reaffirmed his government’s commitment to regional cooperation on citizen security and stressed the need for solutions rooted in Caribbean realities.
“For a Caribbean problem, we need a Caribbean prescription,” he said. “By sharing our experiences and strategies, we strengthen the entire region.”
The engagement underscores St. Kitts and Nevis’ growing reputation as a leader in progressive, humane, and results-oriented approaches to crime prevention in the Caribbean.
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