PRESS RELEASE – A letter by the General Secretary of the ruling United Workers Party Oswald Augustin in last Saturday’s edition of The VOICE Newspaper is causing consternation in the camp of the St. Lucia Labour Party — and as a result, the party has written to Police Commissioner Severin Monchery.
Causing dismay in the Labour Party is the wording of two paragraphs in Augustin’s Letter to the Editor which stated thus: “Law enforcement agencies on island have successfully collected information which is likely to bring the offenders to justice.”
The offenders referred to by Augustin are persons he claimed who are circulating misleading information about the current administration.
The second paragraph in Augustin’s letter that alarmed the Labour Party states thus: “A top Israeli investigative officer presently on island on other related issues is expected to assist law enforcement officers in curtailing such breeches of protocol, including the ongoing leakages which remain of great concern to the security of the state.”
Labour Party Chairman Moses Jn Baptiste, whose signature appears on the letter to the Commissioner Monchery, wants to know how Augustin was able to possess information that law enforcement officers have successfully collected and are yet to act on — and why does he feel empowered to make such a revelation?
“We view Mr. Augustin’s statements as a suggestion that in his attempts at getting after political opponents, he has the benefit of access to the machinery and operation of the police in Saint Lucia,” wrote Jn Baptiste.
He added: “Such statements by a senior member of the ruling United Workers Party are ominous and should be a source of grave concern to the citizens of our country. As you would appreciate, Commissioner, citizens are expected to trust that the actions of our police are above board and are not exercised on the whims and fancies of political operatives like Mr. Augustin. Any indication to the contrary can lead to a loss of confidence in the police and its operations.”
Jn Baptiste concluded his letter to Monchery by calling on him to use the authority of his office to properly investigate the basis for such bold announcements by the UWP General Secretary and help calm anxieties that such action may cause to the citizens who rely on the impartiality of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force by making a public announcement on the matter.