Social intervention plays a crucial role in combating crime in Saint Lucia. As the country grapples with a surge in criminal acts and lawlessness, the government recognizes the importance of addressing this issue within the social fabric of society. Recent incidents of ghastly killings, gun violence, and other violent conflicts have underscored the urgency of effective intervention.
Crime Prevention Minister Jeremiah Norbert emphasizes that social groups engaged in intervention programs can significantly impact deviant behaviors, especially among young people. Saint Lucia has also hosted major regional and global activities aimed at combating crime, including the staging of the Regional Security System (RSS) UNEX’24 military drills involving law enforcement officers from across the region. Additionally, the ‘Know Your Rights – Stop Gender-Based Violence’ campaign was launched in collaboration with the French Embassy.
Despite these efforts, the surge in violence persists, and some individuals remain unaware of ongoing initiatives to keep citizens safe. Minister Norbert believes that highlighting the programmes and interventions of social groups is essential. He emphasizes the need to raise awareness through effective reporting mechanisms.
Notably, facilitators at human resource centers in various communities engage in one-on-one sessions with vulnerable individuals.
While admitting that more needs to be done within the social outreach to members of the community, the minister said, the “reporting mechanisms” must be highlighted “so that persons are aware of what is happening.”
Mr Norbert listed programmes involving facilitators at respective human resource centres in the communities where the facilitators cater to “vulnerable individuals” in one-on-one sessions. He also acknowledged the input of Priest Kalash and his team incorporating the Umbuntu Movement, where a ‘SEEDS Centre’ was opened in Vieux Fort.
“They too serve as a referral agency, where they get vulnerable individuals (and) they assist them, and direct them to the places that they are supposed to go to,” Mr Norbert explained.
Also, through their ‘Pantry Programme”, Ras Venus Cherry and Dr. Stephen King and crew through their group- Rise Saint Lucia provide breakfast to vulnerable individuals and are also involved in several noteworthy community outreaches and socially transformative programmes.
“A lot is happening and what we don’t see is that most of what happens is not reported,” the Micoud North MP added.
However, he says, though these groups are “impactful” they are not always afforded the platform to report on the extent of work undertaken and the number of persons that they reach out to.
Norbert said the government too has played its part in rolling out these social intervention programmes “and we continue to provide support at every level.”
He referred to institutions such as the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF), MSME Loan Facility, and the Youth Economy Agency (YEA) as avenues to help persons create opportunities to earn a livelihood.
The Micoud North MP reported that at least 21 young persons from the constituency have been given grants to be recruited into the British Army.
Nonetheless, the media forum delved into the deeper issue of gangs infiltrating the region and the sophisticated measures that they employ to carry out their unlawful acts. For instance, it has been reported that some gangs in Trinidad and Tobago have set up Security cameras at strategic locations in the vicinity of some police stations to monitor the officers.
This sophistication in the technology employed by the gangs is another cause of concern for the authorities.
“The situation as it relates to gun violence in Saint Lucia is not unique,” said Mr Norbert. “We have seen an escalation of crime and violence, especially in gun-related and gun-related offenses throughout the region.”
He said that a decision was taken at the last CARICOM Heads of Government summit, to assess how to deal with crime from a regional perspective as a lot of what we see happening in Saint Lucia, we also see it in Barbados, St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago and elsewhere.
The minister said that the issue is not endemic only in Saint Lucia, and so “it requires regional cooperation, in terms of how we go about combatting it …and it’s a situation where we have to come together as a region and determine the way forward.”