CASTRIES – Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre says addressing the crime situation in St Lucia “is a concern for all citizens” and that strengthening of the judicial system is a priority for his administration.
Pierre was reacting to last weekend’s mass shooting incident where three people were killed and several others injured including an off-duty police officer at a party in Coolie Town, west of here.
“We are now relying heavily on the Marigot Community to give us the necessary support so what we can restore a semblance of a safe community in Marigot by limiting the ability of the criminals to operate and the opportunities available to them,” Deputy Police Commissioner, Wayne Charlery, told a news conference, adding that there’s a plan to prevent any further escalation in the gun violence.
But in a message posted on his Facebook page, Pierre said that while normally he would have received a report from the Police Commissioner, Milton Desir, he instead requested an “emergency meeting” with the hierarchy to discuss the incident.
Pierre, extended his “sincerest condolences to those who lost loved ones,” assuring St. Lucians that his administration, which came to office in July last year “will continue to provide resources and training to the RSLPF (Royal St Lucia Police Force) and challenged the hierarchy to use more innovative strategies, professionalism and proactiveness in their work”.
Pierre said he has tasked the Attorney General to “expedite the drafting and review of the needed legislation” to assist the police in discharging their duties,” adding “the strengthening of the judicial system has also been prioritised in our budgetary allocation to facilitate the timely and just prosecution of the perpetrators of crime.
“Addressing this crime situation is a concern for all citizens. We are better than this. Let’s do better,” Pierre said.
The police have so made no arrests following the mass shooting that left 46 –year-old janitor, Versia Alexander, 27-year-old store attendant Tamara Edmund, and disc jockey, Kervin Joseph, dead.
Media reports said that there had been more than one assailant and Desir, told reporters that despite the Coolie Town incident, there has been constant police action to bring about crime reduction.
Last year, St Lucia recorded 74 murders. (CMC)
I will say what I have been saying for years. I am appalled at the way black people are behaving. I don\\\’t understand what it\\\’s that they want? Do they think destroying where they live, their sisters and brothers are going to make them be acceptable as human being anywhere in the world? Blacks already have a bounty on their heads by others; but when a bounty comes from within it saddens me to the core. Barbados, Jamaica, St.Lucia, T&T and all over the Caribbean it\\\’s the same with Blacks. Where are our pride, strength, respect, loyalty, and admiration? The things that once made us Queens and Kings of the Caribbean? When people came to our shores they weren\\\’t only impressed with the water and sand; they were impressed with the locals. Now they come just to get away from the stress of their jobs. If they see us during they stay they see us, other than that they have no usages for us. Why should they? We are a sick bunch of people; anyone who devoured his own without any regards is SICK.