February 2017 |Business View Caribbean

10 11 opening lines Newtechnological equipment,including drones, is being brought to bear on law enforcement in St. Kitts and Nevis, as the government seeks to con- solidate gains in 2016 in reducing crime. At a press conference recently, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Timothy Harris, stated that a new mobile patrol unit will be deployed in the federation, bringing the number to two. A number of drones will also be deployed to increase surveillance in order to detect and deter from crime. The closed circuit television (CCTV) program will also be enhanced with systems in the capi- tal cities of Basseterre and Charlestown, as well as in Frigate Bay, Conaree, St. Peter’s, and Shad- well being expanded. “Equipment and applianc- St. Kitts-Nevis Police to get Drones and other New Technology to Fight Crime es have already been brought in and a further shipment is in progress,” Harris said. “We have one of the top international firms in the CCTV industry - that is Vivotek - working with us.” Vivotek Inc. was established in Taiwan in 2000 and has earned a reputation for being a lead- ing brand in global security surveillance. Their participation in the local project was facilitated by the embassy of Taiwan in Basseterre. Person- nel from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) and others are being trained to use the system. The investment in the CCTV program amounts to EC$5 million, to be covered by the Taiwanese government, while the price tag for the mobile patrol unit and the drones costs more than $1 million.