Rumours are rife that the Philip J. Pierre administration has or is in the process of appointing a new Commissioner of Police. The Prime Minister has categorically denied that any appointment has been made. PM Pierre took time to address the issue at the weekly government press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday. “There has been no discussion, there has been no appointment of a police commissioner,” he reiterated. The PM went on to explain that there is a process when appointing a police commissioner which involves the Public Service Commission (PSC). Pierre revealed that the PSC has not even started the process much less reach any form of a conclusion.
The Prime Minister was speaking days after a letter surfaced online condemning the perceived imminent appointments of Deputy Commissioner Ronald Phillip to the top post in the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF). The letter urged the Prime Minister to stand clear of the Deputy Commissioner seemingly citing allegations of misconduct brought against the high-ranking law enforcement officer. The letter went on to insist that “the head of the law enforcement authority of any country must be above reproach. Not merely legally cleared. Above reproach!! The office demands not only technical competence, but unimpeachable moral authority.” The letter which referenced tragic local incidents involving sexual assault, rape and murder seemed to have been penned by a well-known United Workers Party (UWP) supporter.
At Monday’s briefing, PM Pierre was also concerned that the naming of a member of his family in the letter placed his family at risk. “People are speculating who the police commissioner will be and adding all sorts of handles to it which is directly putting a member of my family at risk, because you are implying that people should go after a member of my family because I am indirectly supporting an illegality.”
PM Pierre stated that there has been “no senior officer charged for rape” which seemed to be the essence of the online letter to the Prime Minister. The current hierarchy of the RSLPF remains in place according to the Prime Minister.