Photo: Hon. Shawn K. Richards (Right) and Antigua-Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer (left) during an informal meeting discussin issues in respective countries including crime

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissesar has declared a limited state of emergency in certain crime hotspots in Trinidad and has come in for high praises on the move from St.Kitts-Nevis Opposition MP Hon. Shawn K. Richards. Persad-Bissesar declared the state of emergency after a recent spike in murders in her country.

Leader of the Opposition Hon.Mark Brantley supported by MP Richards made a similar recommendation of a limited state of emergency in hotspots to the Douglas-led Labour Party Administration in St.Kitts-Nevis .However no acknowledgement of the suggestion has been indicated by the government "I must commend Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar , as unlike our Prime Minister she has exhibited a will to fight crime in her country and has accepted her mandated responsibility to keep her country safe and secure," said the Opposition Peoples Action Movement MP Shawn Richards.

"Rather than refusing to take any responsibility and sitting back and blaming parents,teachers,cable tv and dancehall music Kamla has done something and is exhibiting true leadership and is showing a genuine willingness to deal with crime in her country. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of our Prime Minister here in StKitts-Nevis who despite the huge spike in murders over the last few weeks remains mum on the issue and has said nothing to the citizens of this country regarding the issue . True leadership is shown when times are difficult, rough and unprecedented and the Prime Minister’s disappearing act over the last few weeks shows a serious lack of leadership. Leadership that is badly needed at this point with this unprecedented crime spree in our country," Richards continued.

St.Kitts-Nevis recorded an unprecedented 5 Murders in the last week giving a record total of 27 for the year. Since the first of the 5 most recent murders last Saturday the Prime Minister has not addressed the nation concerning the unprecedented and record breaking crime surge.