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News from the Caribbean as of
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Former British police to help St Lucia fight rising crime
Thursday, April 27, 2006
by Shervon Alfred
Caribbean Net News St Lucia Correspondent
Email: shervon@caribbeannetnews.com
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Saint Lucia has sought the assistance of the United Kingdom government to deal with rising levels of violent crime on the island.
Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy made the announcement Tuesday as she opened a new session of the country’s parliament.
The Governor General said the UK government will assist with recruiting seven “highly experienced” former British Police Officers to work with the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.
Saint Lucia will become the third country in the region, after Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, to make use of the expertise of British Police Officers within the national Police Force.
The former British officers will be responsible for crime and intelligence as well as the development of an anti-corruption program within the force, she said.
They will also provide training for the local police.
Dame Pearlette Louisy did not set a date when the officers would arrive in Saint Lucia; however she said they will be employed on a two year contractual basis.
New and additional posts will be created to accommodate the officers, she said
The announcement comes amid concerns over rising incidents of violent crime on the island.
Saint Lucians are due go to vote in general elections later this year and the governing administration is keen to show that it’s committed to fighting crime.
They administration has established programs that reward people who assist the police to solve murders and recover illegal firearms.
In addition, a new law has been enacted that allows the police to use wiretaps during criminal investigations and the Attorney General’s office is working on new legislation to allow closed circuit television images to be admissible in court.
Also, the government says it will continue to invest heavily in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.
Dame Pearlette Louisy said: “These (British) officers will be essential elements of my government’s strategy to build capacity in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the force.”
The government will finance the cost of the officers by accessing the Petroleum Stabilisation Fund established by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, Dame Pearlette Louisy said.
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