18th September 2012
“SITUATION UNDER CONTROL”
Stan Bishop

There seems no abatement on the horizon for the string of criminal activity that has gripped the island in recent weeks.

But the police are trying – really trying, they say.

During a press briefing held in the Major Crimes Unit conference room last Friday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime and Intelligence) Frances Henry admitted that the situation is taxing on the human resource component of the Force.

The main objective of the press brief was to update the media on the progress of some key investigations now being conducted by police.

With respect to the death of Forestiere resident Tathenao Eugene which occurred on Friday, September 7 between 3 pm and 6 pm at Forestiere, ACP Henry said three individuals are currently in police custody. A preliminary file, she said, has been prepared and police are awaiting a brief from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Victoria Charles-Clarke, as to the way forward.

“I’m confident enough to indicate – by and large – that this is a matter (in which) we are now just awaiting instructions to proffer charges,” ACP Henry said.

Speaking to the matter of Evencius Francis who resided at Grande Riviere, Dennery and was shot and killed in Dennery on Saturday, September 1, the crime chief said that police have interrogated a number of people in relation to the matter and executed a number of search warrants. However, no one has been taken into police custody as investigations progress.

Just a day before Evencius Francis was gunned down, another man – Reduit resident Lester Francis – was killed when assailant/s opened fire on a parked car he was in at the time near a nightclub in the Bois d’Orange area. ACP Henry said no suspect has been identified in the Bois d’Orange shooting.

A major challenge faced by police, ACP Henry explained, is that the lone survivor who was injured in the Bois d’Orange incident is refusing to be interviewed by police, even after being discharged from hospital. Despite that setback, she noted that the matter is still being investigated and information is being solicited from the general public in the matter.

The crime chief gave the assurance that despite having their hands full, the necessary steps are being taken to curb the spate of violence that seems to dominate the news.

“The police are very confident that we have the situation under control,” ACP Henry said last Friday afternoon. “As had been indicated before, we have met at the executive level (and) have discussed all of what obtained and we have responded in a very positive way. Our response following these two weeks of incidents (suggests) that it is very apparent that we have increased our boots on the ground. We have also sought to engage communities as to the ways in which they as communities can rally together and make their communities safe.”