In a significant move to strengthen national security, the Government of Saint Lucia handed over new vehicles and protective equipment to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) and the Saint Lucia Forensic Science Laboratory on August 20, 2025. The ceremony at the Police Training Academy underscores a renewed commitment to modernise the island’s policing amid concerns over rising firearm-related offences and violent crime.
The handover included two new police vans, bulletproof vests for every officer, and a $168,000 mobile forensic unit designed for on-site evidence collection. Over the past four years, the government has invested more than $20 million in police vehicles and $3 million in bulletproof vests, ensuring officers are both mobile and protected. More than 250 new officers and rangers have also been trained or are undergoing training, reflecting a dual focus on resources and human capacity.
Acting Commissioner of Police Ronald Phillip described the handover as “a tangible demonstration of the government’s commitment to supporting the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force in our collective fight against crime and continued pursuit of national security and public safety.” He emphasized that the timing of the handover was crucial, saying that “in recent times we have seen an increase in the use of firearms in the commission of offences. This worrying trend is not unique to our shores, but it demands a response that is timely, strategic and robust.”
Acting Commissioner Phillip also highlighted that, for the first time in the Force’s history, bulletproof vests will be issued on an individual basis rather than passed down, calling it “a new chapter in how we treat the people behind the uniform.” He further linked equipment with professional development, saying that “scores of police officers have been given access to scholarships and financial assistance for academic and professional growth. This is how a police force progresses, when investments are made not only on tools but on the people who use them.”
The forensic vehicle was in the spotlight at the ceremony. Equipped with a three-ton hydraulic lift, service box, fire extinguisher, safety cones, and a tailored storage area for sensitive samples, it functions as a mobile crime lab. Director of Forensic Science Services Fernanda Henry described it as “a comprehensive mobile forensic unit designed for swift deployment,” explaining that it allows teams to “respond in the field to sample bug seizures and provide additional support and resources at major crime scenes when requested.”
Crime Prevention Minister Jeremiah Norbert urged officers to use the resources responsibly, quoting the number of damaged police vehicles over the past few months, saying, “We need you to do your work. You are the gatekeepers of law and order in this country. We’ve made a deliberate attempt to ensure that we continue to give the police their fair share. But the police have an equal responsibility to ensure that their fair share is maintained.”
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre expressed confidence in the Force’s ability to use the new tools effectively. “In spite of what we are seeing now or experiencing now, I still have full confidence in the enforcement services of Saint Lucia,” he said. “And I know that if given the resources, if given support and if given the tools to do their work, they will make Saint Lucia a safer place.”
With modern equipment, enhanced mobility, and strengthened investigative capacity, officials say the handover represents a tangible step toward a more responsive and professional law enforcement service, signalling the government’s determination to confront crime with both strategy and science.
With, over 23 million dollars injected into the RSLPF operations, coupled with the erection of Custody Suites and other similar facilities, the government has expended approximately $80 million over the past four years.