Last Friday 4^th October, 2024, members of the Nevis Island Administration, the Federal Parliament, the Opposition, and other persons of interest including community members met at the Malcolm Guishard Recreational Park on Nevis to discuss and introduce plans to further address crime and violence in the federation from a “public health perspective”. Professor at the Windsor University, School of Medicine in St. Kitts, Dr. Jeanita Richardson, gave a comprehensive presentation, defining crime and violence as a public health issue. Doctor Richardson outlined the World Health Organization’s (W.H.O.) definition of health, “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” She continued:

She further stated:

Dr. Jeanita Richardson.

Additionally, Criminologist and Coordinator of the Criminology Unit at the University of the West Indies (U.W.I), St. Augustine Campus, Dr. Randy Sipersad, presented the findings of a recent criminal dynamics study done in St. Kitts and Nevis. Dr. Sipersad highlighted that for St. Kitts and Nevis and by extension other Caribbean countries that a risk factor for gang affiliation is “the issue of trauma, neglect and abuse” or “adverse childhood experiences which occurred within the family”. He also stated:

Dr. Randy Sipersad.