The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) will host a press conference to discuss issues of public interest, Police Commissioner Cruscita Descartes-Pelius said this week, days after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) convened one of his own.
The DPP’s presser focused on a number of high-profile cases including a number of police killings which took place between 2010-2011 – during Operation Restore Confidence (ORC).
DPP Daarsrean Greene told reporters he’d found enough evidence to warrant the arrest of officers involved and that he’d advised the commissioner accordingly.
“I know the public is concerned, we are concerned as well,” the Commissioner said this week, adding that “I will let you know” more as time progresses.
In the meantime, she said, “police officers are functioning as expected and are continuing to keep Saint Lucia safe. We are all working together to keep our heads up in spite of the challenges we face with crime in this country.”
“We will answer the questions that you have,” she said.
Deputy Police Commissioner Ronald Philip who also spoke to the media said there is “always the presumption of innocence” until someone is proven guilty.
“Even if somebody is charged that still does not equate to guilt. It’s concerning to us as an organization, that’s the most I could say on that matter,” he said in reference to his colleagues’ involvement.
Regarding his expectations, Philip said he had none, and that “I really (was) not expecting anything from the DPP. Like the rest of Saint Lucia the most information I’ve had on Operation Restore Confidence is what I heard from the press statement.
“In terms of what he presented to the past commissioners I would not know; I have never seen any file from the DPP.”
Home Affairs Minister Jeremiah Norbert also chimed in on the situation.
Norbert told the media that “if he, Mr Greene felt the need to hold a press conference that’s his prerogative.”
And whilst one reporter stated that Mr Greene “threw the commissioner and the RSLPF under the bus” at his press conference last Wednesday, Norbert said he’d refrain from responding to that statement altogether.
“I will not comment on that because that can be subjective. Some people may take it one way (and) some may take it another way,” Norbert said.
Furthermore, he added, as it relates to the morale of the organization, “I think some revelations were made. I cannot speak confidently on that particular subject because I’ve not had much conversations with police officers to see how they feel about the press conference.
“I don’t want to comment too much, I know the prime minister will deal with that component. I will limit my comments as it relates to the DPP and his press conference.”
Kevin Ferdinand, Rosarius Marquis, John Baptiste Macfarlane, Mitchell Cadette and Allen Louisy were all shot and killed by police on May 5th 2011.
In that same year (on February 28th) Reginald Jean was also shot and killed by police.
Greene told reporters that the investigation is nearly complete in both cases.
The RSLPF is expected to shed light on these killings when it finally hosts its press conference, a date for which has not yet been given.