Prime Minister of St Lucia, Philip J Pierre, has thanked Dominica and other Caribbean islands for sending police officers as the island tackles a surge in violent gun-related crimes in the south.
On the weekend, he took to Facebook to make his thoughts known on the matter, saying these regional countries have sent their best men and woman to work with St Lucia at this time.
In a period of two days about a week ago, seven people were shot dead in the town of Vieux Fort, causing the Pierre administration to seek outside assistance to assist local police to stem the bloodshed.
“Given our current situation, I made a decision to request the assistance of the RSS (Regional Security Service) to support the ongoing work of our local law enforcement officers and yesterday evening, I had the opportunity to welcome them to Saint Lucia and thank them for their service,” the prime minister wrote on his official Facebook page on Saturday. “To the Government and People of The Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados, thank you for sending some of your best men and women to work with us at this time – One Caribbean.”
Pierre also thanked the local police in St. Lucia.
“I want to take a moment to encourage and express my gratitude to the men and women of the RSLPF (Royal St Lucia Police Force),” he said. “In recent times, you have been called to redouble your efforts to ensure that our streets are secure and that we can go about our daily lives without fear.”
Meanwhile, last week, Pierre’s government introduced the Suppression of Escalated Crime (Police Powers) Bill in the Lower House of Parliament in response to the deadly violence.
It aims to provide the police with expanded powers to respond to areas where crime has escalated.
Pierre explained that it is “a legal instrument that establishes a framework to preserve public order, public safety, and economic stability in Saint Lucia.”
“The Police Powers Bill authorizes the National Security Minister on the advice of the Commissioner of Police to designate an area affected by high crime rates as an escalated crime area,” he explained.
He said the Bill received unanimous support from government legislators and went through the Committee stage with amendments and was passed in the Lower House.
According to the Bill, summary convictions for offences made under the Police Powers Bill attract fines not exceeding EC$50, 000 or imprisonment terms not exceeding 15 years or both. Convictions on indictment for offences made under the Police Powers Act attract prison terms not exceeding 25 years.
“We will continue to implement the strategies that we have presented to uphold law and order and to legally eliminate threats to the stability and security of Saint Lucia’s peace-loving communities,” Pierre said.
Despite efforts in the south, media in St Lucia reported a double homicide on Sunday night, this time in the capital, Castries, in the north of the island.
According to reports, two men were riding a motorcycle in an area called Bannanes Bay when they were shot.
They died on the spot.
And meanwhile a St. Lucian just killed a man in Portsmouth, Dominica. Charity starts at home. Dominica is just as bad as St. Lucia when comes to crimes.
Policemen are generally never appreciated until they are needed in a life and death situation. Those in Dca have for a long time been used as stooges and political puppets even if they are trained differently.
Let me take this opportunity to thank Chi-chi and Whiteless for responding to the cry of our sister nation by sending some of our finest (I hope) to help in time of need. It is never easy to send men and women in a harms-way especially when its on foreign land. After all, there is no guarantee of their safe return and like us they are sons, daughters, dads, moms, uncles, nieces etc . Let us all collectively pray for them and their families as they undertake this noble cause without fear, favor, malice or ill will. May god bring them back safely upon completion of their mission.
But has Dominica thanked St Lucia for firing and gassing the people of Salisbury?
I hope our minister of national security introduce a suppression of escalated crime bill the next time parliament meet.I wish our officers good luck.They should never forget their rifle,is their mother,father,brother,sister,child and best friend.Their weapon should be cleaned and working at all times.
@clown
You think this government will set traps for themselves. You are really a clown.
You are a real clown