THE brutal gangland-style shooting killing of a young man in the city centre on Monday afternoon shocked the country. Many Saint Lucians thought this was too brazen. But was it?
Monday afternoon’s daring action by men on motorcycles is a serious challenge to the forces of law and order but what are we, as a people, going to do about it?
Over the years, we have sung the same chorus: have more police officers patrol the streets of Castries, train the police force, advocate for increased police/community coordination, etc.
We have done all of that and more, but similar acts of lawlessness continue to occur. What’s left to do?
For once, let us hold ourselves accountable. We refuse to speak up when we perceive anything wrong in our homes, neighbourhoods, workplaces, and among our friends. However, we are quick to point out wrongdoings and corruption among our leaders, believing that wrongdoing and corruption should only be exposed when they occur in high positions.
We believe that the persistence of illegal acts today is due to a lack of accountability among Saint Lucians because if we are genuinely a nation that holds itself accountable, we should be calling out wrongdoing and corruption in low-level positions as well. For example, we should not ignore family members’ crimes, harbour criminals, or show indifference to felonious, lawless, and immoral characteristics simply because we are not personally affected.
From crime consultations to pleas from prime ministers, government officials, religious leaders, and mourning families, everyone has been urged to confront crimes on a national scale, but it has been ineffective.
Instead, we have fostered a culture of silence in the face of blatant wrongdoing, content to leave crime to the police. In such a condition, we can only blame ourselves for the slaughter that is currently affecting us.
It is because of our casual attitude toward crime that today’s criminals dare to exact their retribution in the manner they did Monday afternoon. Criminals are emboldened by our collective failure to eliminate nepotism in the criminal justice system. They have demonstrated a complete lack of fear of our laws, law enforcement, and even the judiciary. Nothing seems to stop today’s criminals. This bravery is not of today.
Families around the country are mourning the death of young men and women whose lives were cut short by gunshots. This is not something that has just started. This is a continuous situation.
For far too long, we have held the government, politicians, and police responsible for crime in this country. It’s time for us to look in the mirror. We take solace in knowing that, contrary to popular belief, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is not sleeping amid the carnage.
ACP Luke DeFreitas stated that the Royal St Lucia Police Force responded quickly to the Laborie Street incident, providing aid to victims and controlling bystanders to preserve evidence integrity.
“Other lines of inquiry were pursued and tools at our disposal were utilized, including the use of the closed-circuit television systems. Our patrols, execution of searches and engagement of suspicious individuals have been ongoing prior to this incident and have continued thereafter.
“The RSLPF can affirm that there are leads which have been pursued through the course of yesterday afternoon into today that we hope will soon bring investigators closer to making an arrest in this matter. We will spare no effort or resource to ensure that the perpetrators are expeditiously brought to justice. Such lawlessness cannot and will not be tolerated. The enablers who harbour those criminal elements are, in our view, worse than those who pull the trigger.”
We concur with De Freitas when he said “Because of you, crime persists. We need to collectively offer no haven for those intent on breaking the law.”
We are all responsible for sustaining peace and reducing crime in this country. Now is the time for anyone with information on crime or criminals to call the police. Let us join the police in their persistent hunt for offenders.
We conclude with these comments from ACP De Freitas: “Let us recommit not to only speaking the role of exemplary citizens, but to live what we speak. Collectively, we can reshape the narrative. Our country belongs to us and not to the criminals. Let us do all in our power to disallow violence to take control of our lives and society. Together, it is possible.”