CASTRIES, St Lucia – Police Commissioner, Severin Monchery says while he is not calling the judgement of the courts into question, he believes the judiciary also has a role to play in combatting the crime situation in St Lucia.
“I am just saying that we all need to work together; we need to coexist and we all need to know the current situation; do not withdraw ourselves from society as if we do not know what is happening,” he said.
Speaking on a radio programme here, Monchery said while in the past few weeks, police had been successful in taking several firearms off the streets, the battle against crime must be approached holistically.
“The police can do all they do – if we don’t have the support of other agencies and other units in the criminal justice system, it makes very little sense,” Monchery said on the Newsspin radio programme, adding “we must have the support of the judiciary”.
The top cop also expressed concern at the calibre of weapons being recovered and the type of shell casings left behind at scenes of gun crimes. He said that in some instances people have been arrested with high powered weapons and are released on bail amounting to EC$4 000 to EC$5 000 soon afterwards.
“I understand very well that bail should not be punitive, however one would need to look at the circumstances, the current circumstances. You need to put yourself in St Lucia, like someone who is living in St Lucia. Look at the circumstances; the gravity of the offences and what is going on in society before considering what bail could be given to someone,” Monchery said.
He referred to a weekend incident in which two men, who were out on bail after being arrested six months ago, were rearrested on similar charges.
The police official said while he was not certain how much amending the existing legislation would help in the fight against crime, “amendments would be down the line, futuristic.
“But I think what has to happen now is for everyone to put their shoulder to the wheel and let’s move forward together,” Monchery told radio listeners. (CMC)