Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has responded to recommendations made by former Prime Minister Allen Chastanet on tackling crime, stressing that many of the proposals are already being implemented or actively under review by his administration.
Chastanet, speaking last week, outlined a suite of crime-fighting measures he urged the government to adopt, including the restoration of Saint Lucia’s 1,200-camera CCTV network, introducing vessel monitoring systems, implementing polygraph tests for law enforcement and customs officers, and establishing a dedicated CSI unit.
He also called for scanners at border points, a crime command center, and faster resolution of court cases.
On Monday, August 18th, Pierre addressed the proposals in detail, emphasising that his government has been proactive in advancing reforms and providing resources to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF).
Pierre noted that while the opposition leader called for a crime command center, the RSLPF already operates a Gang, Guns, and Narcotics Unit that addresses many of the issues highlighted.
“This unit is headed by the police, not the ministry, and the police executive meets constantly to deal with these issues,” he explained.
On the recommendation to establish a comprehensive border control program that separates law enforcement from revenue collection, Pierre confirmed that the matter is “under active consideration.”
Legal discussions are ongoing regarding customs officers, many of whom are established civil servants, and the complexities of transitioning them into a new enforcement structure.
“In the meantime, the Customs Department has been strengthened in terms of surveillance, and scanners have been purchased and are being repaired where necessary,” Pierre stated.
The Prime Minister clarified that all new police recruits undergo polygraph testing, and some have already been removed from the recruitment process after failing.
However, he acknowledged legal challenges with extending mandatory polygraph tests to certain civil servants.
“There was an issue again on the human rights of some civil servants who said that their job description does not allow them to be polygraphed. That’s a legal matter we are pursuing,” he noted.
Chastanet also suggested mandatory GPS monitoring systems for fishermen. Pierre, however, questioned the practicality of such a measure.
“Every fisherman who gets a license uses a GPS. But how do you monitor every man who puts a boat on the sea? If we do that, we’ll take that suggestion gracefully, once we are given the modality,” he said.
Pierre stressed that his government has significantly expanded camera surveillance since taking office.
“The government has spent millions of dollars on camera installation. There are many more cameras now than there were on the 21st of July 2021,” he pointed out.
On the issue of delayed trials, Pierre underscored recent judicial reforms.
“Legislation has been passed for judge-only trials. The law is there. And that is why the government decided we have the Halls of Justice, so we can bring criminal courts together and deal with the backlog of cases,” he explained, noting that budgetary allocations have been made since 2021 to address the issue.
While acknowledging the opposition’s input, Pierre insisted his administration is already acting decisively against crime.