• by IPS Correspondents (bridgetown)
• Saturday, November 12, 1994
• Inter Press Service

BRIDGETOWN, Nov 12 (IPS) - At least two platoons of soldiers from the Regional Security System (RSS) were Saturday deployed to St. Kitts where drug-related murders and crime have overtaken the tiny Caribbean country in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados told an early morning news conference that nearly two platoons of soldiers from Barbados and other Caricom states were despatched to St. Kitts at the request of prime minister, Dr. Kennedy Simmonds.

"Early this morning ... 28 soldiers of the Barbados Defence force and 17 members of the Regional Security System were deployed to St. Kitts," Arthur told journalists. "They have been deployed at the prison, with a view to assisting in the restoration of order at the prison."

Friday night, approximately 150 prisoners at the island's only prison, set the institution on fire and broke free, throwing the capital Basseterre into chaos.

Among the escaped prisoners is David Lawrence, the man charged with the brutal murder of police special branch chief Jude Matthew, who had been investigating the disappearance of Vincent Morris, the son of the deputy prime minister, Sydney Morris.

Scotland Yard detectives have linked his disappearance to the illegal drug trade.

In Trinidad and Tobago, Cabinet was meeting in an emergency session to discuss what assistance to provide to its Caribbean neighbour.

Arthur said that in addition to the provision of soldiers, Barbados and other Caricom member countries had their police forces "on alert to assist, if the situation warrants".

Reports quoting St. Kitts opposition sources say that the prisoners were unhappy about the release this week of two sons of the St. Kitts-Nevis deputy prime minister who were being held on drugs and gun charges. The two were granted bail.

Wednesday, police arrested the Morris brothers, Dean and Dave, after a search of their home at Cayon, Basseterre. The search turned up a .32-millimetre gun and ammunition. Dean Morris was also charged with "conspiracy to supply a controlled drug, namely cocaine."

Their brother, Vincent, also linked to the drug trade, disappeared October 10, along with a female companion. Their disappearance is believed to be drug related.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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