Saint Lucia’s law enforcement has issued a strong warning to those involved in illegal activities: prosecution will come without impunity.
As part of its intensified crime-fighting measures, the Royal St Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) held a media briefing on Thursday to update reporters on recent crime statistics and new road safety initiatives for the island.
Superintendent Delvin Mathurin, head of the Gangs, Narcotics, and Firearms Unit, raised concerns about the rise of illegal weapons in the country.
He reaffirmed that the RSLPF is actively monitoring crime trends and developing enhanced strategies to combat the ongoing scourge of criminal activity.
In his presentation, Supt. Mathurin revealed that from January 1 to September 23, there has been a reduction of more than 400 criminal offenses compared to the previous year.
Notably, there has been an 18% decrease in homicides, dropping from 59 last year to 48 this year. However, alarmingly, 36 of these 48 cases involved illegal firearms.
Mathurin highlighted the prevalent use of firearms in murder and attempted murder cases, underlining the critical issue of weapon proliferation across the nation’s borders.
He stated, “The RSLPF emphasizes that the consistent use of firearms in homicides and attempted murders underscores the need for urgent and robust inter-agency collaboration to address the issue of illegal firearms in Saint Lucia.”
The challenge posed by the illegal transshipment of firearms through the island’s porous borders is a growing concern for law enforcement as they seek additional resources to combat this trend.
“Firearms are readily available to cross our borders,” declared Supt. Mathurin.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Terry Bradley, head of the Special Services Unit (SSU), affirmed the unit’s commitment to restoring peace and order to the country. He noted that the SSU is actively providing operational support across the nation, collaborating with other police departments.
Addressing the perpetrators of crime, Bradley stated, “We will not surrender our country; we will not surrender our communities. The SSU will remain relentless in fulfilling its lawful mandate and will continue to conduct operations aimed at apprehending wanted individuals, recovering illegal firearms and ammunition, and dismantling criminal activity.”
He emphasized the SSU’s determination to apprehend and lawfully prosecute those using illegal firearms to perpetrate heinous crimes.
ASP Bradley urged the public, particularly those on social media, to refrain from sharing information about police checkpoints and operations, as such actions can have serious repercussions in the fight against crime and may jeopardize ongoing investigations.