THERE seems to be a determined effort on the part of the Government of St. Lucia to get the forensics laboratory at Tapion up and running in as quick time as possible.
But the lab cannot get the full recognition the government wants it to have if it is not accredited — which it is not and which the government is trying to achieve.
“We are working towards accreditation and that is the reason why we still have to send our samples overseas,” said National Security and Home Affairs Minister Hermangild Francis.
He was quick to note that the collection, storage and transfer to an overseas lab of the samples are done in a professional manner.
To ensure that the lab meets the standard for accreditation a deputy director will be appointed, so too will be someone to be in charge of exhibits.
Francis said that the lab’s rehabilitation is moving along nicely with the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) helping in that regard.
As for the equipment sitting at the lab, Francis described it as being in “a pristine state” and “the best one can get in the Caribbean”.
He promised that whatever monies he could get to push the rehabilitation works completed faster, he will use to do just that as the lab is very much needed in the fight against crime in the country.