The one-year old National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of Dickon Mitchell has announced plans to set up a National Security Council Steering Committee in an effort to help combat a recent crime wave in the country.
In a national radio and television address on Thursday night, the Prime Minister told Grenadians that the Cabinet of Ministers took the decision at a session on June 12 to set up the committee from among “dedicated and skilled individuals from various sectors” to provide leadership and oversight to the new grouping that will become a National Security Council.
He said the members of the group will be given the responsibility to formulate “strategies and policies to safeguard our citizens” and will be called upon “to create and implement a comprehensive national security policy and strategy for Grenada that will underscore the country’s security goals and priorities.”
The Prime Minister addressed the issue of a spike in criminal activities against the backdrop of calls by former Prime Minister and current Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Mitchell for a cross section of Grenadians, including Civil Society Grouping, to be convened to look at a strategy to deal with crime on the island.
In an apparent response to Dr. Mitchell, the new Grenadian leader said: “While law enforcement may be paramount to promoting law and order, securing the safety of communities and the country requires an integrated approach. The evolving local, regional and global dynamics of crime and violence necessitates a collaborative mechanism for monitoring and developing proactive, preventative strategies to threats to safety, peace, and freedom from threats of violence and actual violence.
“Given the importance of a collaborative approach to ensuring our collective safety and security, in the coming weeks, a series of consultations will be held across our Tri-Island State to gather insight from citizens, including specifically and particularly our young people, churches and church leaders, at our schools – including our educators, students and administrators, non-governmental organisations, including community leaders, community groups and activists, law enforcement and the prison authorities, the labour and trade unions, the business and private sector, health sector workers, in particular mental and community health workers and others, to obtain their input in the development of a comprehensive national security plan to ensure that Grenada remains a safe, secure and stable society.
“These consultations will create a platform for open dialogue, where we can collectively discuss concerns, share innovative ideas, and build consensus on the best possible measures to uphold law and order.
“I invite all stakeholders to play an active role in these discussions, especially our young people. Your voices, ideas, and commitment are vital as we forge a path towards a safer and more inclusive Grenada.
“I also take this opportunity to extend a special invitation to the Leader and Members of His Majesty’s Opposition to join us in this endeavour. The safety of our communities is the responsibility of all of us.
Recent statistics provided by the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) showed that there was a proliferation of firearms on the island with law enforcement officers interdicting 31 in the first seven months in 2023 as compared to only 16 in the same period in 2022.
RGPF recorded 128 drug offences in the first seven months in 2022 but for the corresponding period in 2023 the figure increased to 150 offences.
In the area of House-breaking and stealing for 2022, there were some 93 offences reported but for the same period this year the number went down significantly to 54.
In the case of stealing, the number of cases recorded in 2022 was 897 but there was an increase this year to around 1060 while sexual crimes were also down from 202 in 2022 to 138 in 2023.