NATIONAL Security Minister Hermangild Francis has disclosed that the United States wants prosecution in the matter of reports of extra-judicial killings by some members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), in what has become known here as the IMPACS matter.
IMPACS, the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, investigated the killings which occurred between 2010 and 2011 and issued a damning report, parts of which were read on national television by then Prime Minister, Doctor Kenny Anthony, in March 2015.
Anthony said the investigators reported that all the shootings reviewed were ‘fake encounters’ staged by the police to legitimise their actions.
Francis told reporters here last week that when he attended a security meeting in Mexico, he held talks with the Deputy US Under Secretary of Defence, Sergio de la Pena.
“In that discussion, I was told that we definitely have – there must be prosecution,” Francis explained.
“That’s the only thing the Americans are going to agree to – no matter how much we do, although we have put in the DPP and are linking with the Americans, telling them what we are doing.
“They want to see prosecution and so we are going to try and see how we can do that as expeditiously as possible,” the minister stated.