THE new year has started just about the same way the old year ended, with crime, gang activity, police shootings, and various kinds of violence.
Despite the passage of anti-gang legislation last year, it appears that gang activity continues in St Lucia unabated.
Last Friday about 10:25 p. m 19 year old André Poleon of New Village, Castries was shot by an unknown assailant.
Poleon told police he was walking along Darling Road, Castries with two friends, when he was attacked by a group of men with bottles.
Whilst running away from the assailants, Poleon sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of his back, near his shoulder and is presently admitted in stable condition at the Victoria Hospital. Investigations are continuing into the matter.
On Tuesday there was another bizarre police shooting in the city, producing differing versions of what actually took place. Police said that at about 9:25 p.m. they received information of a shooting incident which occurred on Coral Street, Castries.
Police officers were on patrol in the city when they were informed of a male individual in possession of a firearm. During the process of attempting to apprehend the suspect, 23 old Darel Prevost of Bocage, Castries sustained a gunshot wound to his left thigh.
He is presently admitted at the Victoria Hospital in stable condition. However, Prevost is disputing the Police version and is reported as saying that the incident might have been one of mistaken identity.
Prevost said he was in the area when someone challenged him to stop. Thinking it was someone planning to rob him he continued to walk away only to be shot in the leg and landed in a gutter.
Morne du Don, meanwhile, continues to be a hot spot with a reported arson attempt last Friday. Police say that about 12:10 a.m. someone attempted to burn the home of Sherline Williams when a lighted kerosene bottle (molotov cocktail) was thrown into her bedroom causing damage to louvre blades and curtains.
Williams was able to extinguish the flames before any significant damage could occur.