Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis, July 25th 2007 (CUOPM)
St. Kitts and Nevis is experiencing difficulties in getting forensic work done at labs in Jamaica and the United States and will have to explore alternative avenues in getting its forensic work done.
A team of six members from the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mrs. Astona Browne informed the St. Kitts and Nevis Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas during Monday’s routine meeting of the decision-making body.
In elucidating the challenges with forensic work, the security commanders outlined that the FBI lab in the United States had indicated, that with its own resources being stretched because of the Iraq war, it is no longer able to respond as timely to external demands on its resources,” Minister of State for Information, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty told the Post Cabinet Briefing.
He also disclosed that the crime lab in Jamaica has also cited that increased activity in its own jurisdiction had presented similar challenges and was not in a position to give more urgent support to requests from other countries.