Retired Jamaican General, Stewart Saunders named national security adviser of St. Kitts & Nevis

Retired Jamaican army chief Major General Stewart Saunders has been appointed national security adviser for St Kitts & Nevis, according to an official statement issued in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

The appointment of Saunders, who met with Prime Minister Timothy Harris yesterday, was approved by Cabinet. He has met with high-ranking members of the security forces and other stakeholders.

The Government statement noted that Saunders is a strategic security practitioner and educator with more than 40 years of experience at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. He retired as chief of defence staff of the Jamaica Defence Force in October 2010 and also served as a permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security.

“Major General Saunders has been highly recommended by the executive director of CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), as well as senior government and military referees in Jamaica from the agencies where he has worked,” the statement added.
Prime Minister Harris, who also serves as minister of national security, thanked Saunders for responding to the position of national security adviser.

“You would come to the position knowing that at this time there is great anxiety in the community,” Harris said, noting that the twin-island federation is now in a situation where homicides moved from a single figure in 2005 to a high of 34 in 2011.
“We are prepared to make the investment because we believe from the investment must come a peace dividend — a peace dividend that allows the country to grow, our people to reach their full potential and to contribute to the shared prosperity which we promised,” Prime Minister Harris added.

General Saunders assumes the position immediately. -(CMC)