Crime Prevention Minister Jeremiah Norbert has made it clear that those who hinder police operations and assist those involved in criminal activities will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The Crime Prevention Minister was speaking recently at a press conference which was specially convened to address the spate of shootings over the past two weeks as well as the successful efforts of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF).
Norbert is convinced that criminal activity locally is known to many who shield or assist the individuals who are the architects of those heinous crimes. “We live in a very small society and we have a few individuals who have become very brazen, who show very little concern about life and they go about believing that this country belong to them, and I want to say to them that this government will stop at absolutely nothing to ensure that this thing comes to a halt.”
He went on, “and these individuals who engage in criminal activities, they have brothers, they have sisters, they have mothers, aunties and uncles, children who are very aware, and I speak from the standpoint of a police officer who dealt with intelligence, of the activities, and some of them actually benefit from the proceeds of crime.”
Norbert says the investigation into those individuals would be in-depth with a view to throwing the full force of the law in their direction.
The Crime Prevention Minister highlighted the need for the citizenry to play a more active role in the effort to curb the local crime problem. He reminded that the government is playing its part and the RSLPF has been asked to do more. He believes the only missing link in the fight against crime is the assistance and cooperation of the local population.
While the RSLPF has made some inroads as it relates to the fight against crime locally, Norbert believes cooperation with police will be the game changer.
Reports suggest that over the last two weeks over eight shootings have been registered, bringing the national overall homicides figures to approximately 59.
At the current rate, it is expected that the 2025 figures will exceed that of 2024.