
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) Marine Unit is in the process of implementing a Maritime Investigations and Intelligence Unit, which was established last December, as part of a comprehensive initiative focused on a transnational approach to crime.
This new unit will methodically document and address adverse maritime activities within the borders of Saint Lucia.
A committed team of officers is presently engaged in intensive training facilitated by the RSLPF. They will work in conjunction with regional and international law enforcement agencies to broaden investigations beyond the shores of Saint Lucia, efficiently targeting and dismantling criminal networks that take advantage of vulnerabilities in the island’s border security systems.
Acting Commissioner of Police Verne Guarde, who spearheads this initiative, emphasised that this represents a significant enhancement of the Marine Unit. “The RSLPF is committed to rolling out a multi-faceted approach to crime fighting and ensuring improved citizen security,” he stated.
Saint Lucia has implemented substantial actions to address illegal marine activity within its jurisdiction. Previous initiatives encompassed workshops designed for regional immigration and customs officers, with a clear focus on enhancing border security operations.
The workshops primarily concentrated on the implementation of a “watch-listing” system. This initiative allows law enforcement agencies to methodically monitor and track the movements of criminals and individuals considered a threat to national security as they move in and out of member states.
The Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC), a sub-agency of CARICOM, is committed to strengthening the border security capabilities of CARICOM member states. The JRCC conducts analysis and shares passenger information to enhance border security, intelligence, and law enforcement efforts, while aiding member states in identifying and tracking persons of interest seeking to transit the region. Representatives of the OECS Commission and the JRCC have highlighted the essential role of data collection and sharing, especially within the context of the OECS Economic Union, which advocates for the principle of free movement of people.