Prime Minister Phillip Pierre Vows Stiffer Penalties to Combat Gun Violence

Prime Minister Phillip Pierre has vowed to enact and impose ‘stiffer gun legislation’ and related policies to deal with the escalating incidents of gun violence spreading over the island in recent times.

Despite efforts by law enforcement officers to rid the streets and neighborhoods of illegal firearms with a recent ‘swoop’ operation that yielded the confiscation of several guns and quantities of ammunition, the gun violence acts committed on the island have not abated.

Ian Joseph, 40, a resident from Cul de Sac, Castries, is the island’s latest homicide victim – taking the murder toll to 17 cases, for the year. According to reports, the man was shot in full public view on Jeremie Street in Castries last Saturday evening and later succumbed to his injuries.

This firearms-related crime situation is quickly becoming a growing and worrisome concern for the government, and Prime Minister Pierre felt impelled to declare that ‘draconian measures’ will have to be employed to deal with the matter.

“Whereas we believe in the separation of the three branches of government …I am going to advise the Cabinet that we stiffen the penalties for gun possession,” Pierre told reporters, on Monday.

In the wake of the recent spate of gun violence crimes that police reported accounted for more than 90% of last year’s record number of 75 homicides, the government intends to move with haste to urgently address the situation.

“We have to go through the system…but we are going to parliament very shortly to change the laws as it relates to illegal possession of guns and ammunition,” said the prime minister.

“We are going to stiffen them because these crimes with these weapons must stop,” Pierre asserted.

Stating that the government will legislate tougher laws to apprehend perpetrators involved in gun-related violence acts and other criminal behaviours, the prime minister added: “We are going to stiffen the penalties and they will be very strong draconian penalties when it comes to the possession of guns and ammunition.”

Pierre, the minister responsible for national security, said that while the government cannot determine the action or judgment from the courts, “but as far as the legislation is concerned we will be going to parliament …and I will advise the Attorney General to stiffen the penalties for gun possession and gun-related crimes and (possession) of ammunition.”

Pierre anticipates that the enactment of stiffer penalties will deter criminals from committing gun-related crimes.

Another growing concern for the authorities is the inability to fully and effectively monitor the island’s porous coastal borders that appear vulnerable to the involvement of criminal activity, including the illegal shipment of guns and ammunition.

Critics have also called for the authorities to assist law enforcement officers, for them to be able to ‘step up’ their surveillance operations with the assistance of modern technology and apparatus to better detect and intercept the shipment and distribution of illegal weapons and ammunition into the island.

Speaking at the Saint Lucia Labour Party’s 71st Annual Conference of Delegates on Sunday, Pierre noted that citizens’ safety is crucial. According to him, the effects of crime is far reaching, and thus he indicated, it must be dealt with swiftly.

Pierre reaffirmed his commitment to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), vowing to assist the RSLPF as much as possible. However, he made it clear that officers must play their part in the fight against crime.

“We are aware of the problems facing our country (and) we know that crime is creating a feeling of fear and trepidation among our people. We are taking steps to improve the capabilities of the police force,” Pierre said.

“I have pledged to improve the working conditions of the police and provide them with the training and modern crime detective equipment, however, our police must show a commitment to maintain law and order as government has demonstrated clearly their intention to provide more resources as seen by the provision of 11 vehicles (for the RSLPF) last week,” he added.