Page 4 - Observer January 20, 2017

Page 4 The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer. Friday January 20, 2017
Editorial
Two Stories In One
In true Dickensian style, it was good news and bad news at the
same time. The headline read: 31 murders, one murder convic-
tion, 34 guns removed from the streets. All of this happened in
2016.
We commend the security forces for their diligence in removing
that many firearms from the streets: guns that at some time more
than likely would have been or was used in the commission of a
crime or crimes. Clearly the strategies of stop and search, the
profiling, the pressure and the presence are yielding heartening
results. We can only hope that the recovered guns – and ammu-
nition - are properly disposed of and would not be stolen from the
precincts.
We also congratulate those persons in the community who shared
information that resulted in the discovery of the arms and in the
conviction of the murderer. While it is unclear whether there were
other murder prosecutions, and if so what were the results.
Evidently, one of 31 (a 3% conviction rate) is too low a result to
engender any sense of satisfaction. We want more; we want TV
style results for TV style behaviour!
Meanwhile, we note the Government’s success in establishing
additional Courts, both Magistrate and High; and the recruitment
of magistrates and judges to speed up the judicial process. If all
works well, there will be no more justice delayed. Bravo, bravo!
While we have your attention, it is time for Magistrate Courts to
have stenographers rather than this dictation that still happens.
Another player in this crime control scenario is the Police as crime
scene evidence gatherers. We are putting it to the authorities that
better, more consistent evidentiary training is required for our
police officers. Their bodies need sharpening (some are too out-
of-shape), their minds need sharpening and their writing needs
refining. Too many of the rank engage in behaviour unbecoming
of an officer of the law and so are not respected while in uniform.
Too many of them, especially the new recruits, become engrossed
in cell phone activity, oblivious to their surroundings. It is time for time and behoves us at self, again on the pre- disenfranchise any eligi-
basic training and re-training.
Finally, a word to lawyers. Prepare yourselves for Court, and stop
requesting postponement of hearings. It is a natural and human
tendency for eye-witnesses to forget what looks like minute details
of a case. A witness who cannot remember the exact date and
time of an event that happened so long ago can easily become a
ments that were given so long ago. Is this a defense strategy? In Support of Capital Punishment
discredited witness, as they stumble over details of their state-
Lift the profession above such gimmickry!
Let us work towards crime reduction in a meaningful way for 2017.
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Kenneth Williams
General Manager: Julio Rosario
St. Kitts Nevis
POB 657, Lower Market Street #1 Observer Plaza, Observer Drive
Basseterre, St. Kitts, W.I. Charlestown, Nevis, W.I.
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Email:observsk@sisterisles.kn Email: observnv@sisterisles.kn
Website: newstkittsnevisobserver.com
Editorial Policy: The Observer reserves the right to edit, rewrite, summarise Nigeria, for the USA 6, for Jamaica 38, mane to this debate, is the defiant refusal
or reject any unsolicited material. We will assume that all letters addressed to 26 for St Vincent and the Grenadines, of the powers that be to activate the cap-
The Observer or its staff are intended for publication unless otherwise stated. and 30 for Antigua, it becomes frighten- ital punishment apparatus that our laws
Letter writers are required to sign their names and are asked to include a tele- ingly clear that we have a serious prob- provide as a definitive means of address-
phone number to allow verification. Views expressed in letters, commentaries lem with murder in our beloved ing the vexing issue.
or personal columns do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of this news- Federation.
paper. Limit submissions to 1000 words
C M Y K
COMMENTARY
From the Supervisor of Elections
January 31st is a special Any properly registered shown. Such movement
voter can make an objec-
date in the electoral cal-
seems optional, but it is
endar of the Federation. tion to any registered advisable to do so once
It is the day set in law, by person, upon the form one has changed address;
which the annual register prescribed by law. The and especially if one has
of voters (ARV) is to be person objected to will resided at the new abode
published for public be written to via regis- for 12 months or more.
scrutiny. This is a regis- tered post at the address In other words, after 12
ter of all persons who given at registration; months of continuous
have successfully regis- advised of the objection residence (please pro-
tered in the preceding and invited to attend a duce proof of address),
period from December hearing to determine come into the offices and
two years earlier to his/her eligibility. That request the change.
objectee may choose to
November of the previ-
ous year. Thus, the pub- attend the hearing or to Unlike an objection, a
lication that will be have representation made claim for transfer does
launched at the end of on his or her behalf. In not result in disenfran-
this month will cover the any case, whether pre- chisement, rather the reg-
period December 2015 to sent, absent or represent- istrant remains registered
November 2016. ed, the Registration at the old address until
Officer is obligated to confirmed in the new. It
That list should NOT hear the “case”, conduct is our intention to void
contain the names of per- his/her own investigation any objection received if
sons who have died with- and issue a decision on during the notification
in the period nor those whether that person process for the objection,
Commonwealth citizens should remain registered the individual applies for
who have repatriated. It or be removed from the a transfer. This last point
may also not contain the register. Unfortunately, will be done for the first
names of persons whose these are the only options time in 2017.
registration was success- open to the Registration Sometimes a name is
fully
challenged
and
Officer under the current
who did not seek re-reg- law. It must be stressed, inadvertently omitted
istration. however, that the burden from the ARV. Anyone
of proof lies with the who was registered but
This ARV typically gives objector and must be ver- whose name does not
rise to objections to ified by the Electoral appear should also come
names that are included Official. Further, any into the office with the
and claims for names that and all decisions are sub- receipt of their registra-
should have been includ- ject to judicial review. tion for the correction to
ed as well as claims for be made.
transfers from one con- A claim, usually a claim It must be emphasised
stituency and polling for transfer, is made by that the aim of the
division to another. It the Registrant him/her- Electoral Office is not to
can be a very confusing
In this
scribed form.
the Electoral Office to case, the registrant is ble voter, but rather to
explain the procedure asking to be placed in a ensure that each regis-
and set out some guide- constituency and/or trant has one vote in the
lines. polling division other right place and at the
than the one currently right time.
By Michael S. Blake
One Ewin James, writing an opinion reality that very few murderers are
piece in this The Observer newspaper of caught and convicted, and that even
13th instant argues pro capital punish- fewer are sentenced to death, it is fair to
ment as a fit, fair and just penalty for conclude that the celestially high level of
those who visit murder on others of their unwarranted killings will persist, giving
fellowmen. rise to a sickening societal acceptance of
such internecine behaviour as ‘normal’,
I support the proposition. even to be expected, as one’s sensitivity
to and sense of umbrage at these murders
The unpalatable fact of the matter is that become numb and inured over time.
St. Kitts and Nevis, a classic small-island
state with a population hovering around Yet I am convinced that a suffocating
50,000 souls, and occupying a physical
landmass of some 104 sq. miles, aver- anger and a tide of discontent at these
killings run the gamut of social strata,
ages 25 or so murders per year, and as
such, ‘boasts’ a per capita murder rate of some of it bred by despair arising from a
approximately 50 per 100,000 persons. sense of individual helplessness under-
pinned by a real or perceived inability to
‘do something about it’.
When this statistic is juxtaposed with the
figure for Singapore being 0.5, 20 for But, more importantly, and more ger-
If one couples the foregoing with the Continued on page 14