BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MEMBERS of a joint Army/Police security patrol came under gunfire yesterday (Feb. 1) while uprooting a large number of marijuana plants in the Old Road area.
According to Captain Kayode Sutton, Public Affairs Officer of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. in the Hermitage Estate area.
“While on a routine joint security patrol between the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force in the Old Road area, the security personnel discovered a small patch of marijuana plantation within 10-20 metres of dwelling homes, less than 300 metres from the Old Road Police Station in the Hermitage Estate area.”
Sutton also said that the land upon which the marijuana plants were found has some tall grass and bush.
He stated that on discovery of the plants, members of the patrol began an uprooting exercise but had to seek cover as gunshots were fired in their direction.
“The security personnel proceeded to uproot the marijuana plants when shots were fired at them. As the soldiers and police officer sought cover from the gunshots, they saw some individuals running away from the direction in which the shots were fired. The armed soldiers were prudent in their action by sticking to the rules of engagement of the SKNDF, thereby not returning fire because of the imminent danger of an innocent person getting hurt due to the presence of dwelling houses in the environment.”
Captain Sutton declared that because of that shooting incident, the Security Forces would up the ante in their operations within residential areas with a view of protecting residents from those involved in criminal activities.
“As a result of this occurrence, the Security Forces will step up urban operations in order to arrest such criminal activities taken place in proximity of homes where children, women and the elderly reside and traverse, and risk the possibility of getting hurt in gang-related activities. Villages and towns will be actively patrolled in conjunction with ongoing eradication operations in the hills.”
He informed that the street value of the uprooted marijuana plants is estimated at EC$86,400.
“The criminals are becoming too daring and are bringing their criminal activities closer and closer to dwelling homes, where children and elders reside, without any regard or respect. We are committed in our ongoing effort to stop them in their tracks. Hence, the Security Forces appeal to everyone to continue to cooperate and support the security apparatus of the nation. Together we will succeed in making our communities and streets safer,” Sutton added.
The Army’s Public Affairs Officer is also appealing to members of the public, who might be inconvenienced during the execution of an intended series of security operations to “be patient with the Security Force as they engage in intensive targeted security operations to rid the communities of criminalities”.
