In a press conference on September 15, Hon. Chastanet has called for a dedicated, properly resourced task force to investigate the death of Merissa Auguste and related reports of violence against women, outlining three measures he wants the government to deliver.

Alongside the taskforce, Chastanet requested regular, transparent updates for affected families and the public. He also called for independent external oversight if confidence in the investigation’s independence and thoroughness breaks down.

Speaking on the International Day of Democracy, he argued that the safety of women and girls should be treated as a national emergency and a measure of whether Saint Lucia’s institutions are fulfilling their responsibilities.

“A dedicated, properly resourced task force to investigate this case and related reports without delay,” he said, setting out his first demand.

His second request centred on a public commitment to “regular, transparent updates for the families and the country, not silence between headlines.”

For the third, Chastanet said authorities should bring in independent external oversight themselves if public trust deteriorates, rather than wait to be pressured into doing so.

He described women being afraid to walk home and mothers fearing for their daughters’ safety. While acknowledging that some circulating reports remained unverified, he maintained that the fear within communities required an urgent institutional response.

Chastanet also acknowledged that responsibility extended across political administrations, including his own.

“This failure did not begin under one administration, and it will not be resolved by one either,” he said.

Chastanet’s appeal nevertheless places three specific requests before the government: investigative resources, consistent communication and external scrutiny if public confidence requires it. He argued that protecting women and girls must remain a responsibility shared across political lines.