This, she argues, will help police officers in the execution of their duties. Operating under the motto, “to serve and to protect”, the Home Affairs Minister adds, does not mean citizens should take law enforcement for granted.

“Too many times we see the police as our adversaries. Police are supposed to be the friends of the people, to protect them. If we begin to change our attitude towards the police, we will get a lot more out of them rather than the confrontational aspect,” Poyotte explained. She adds that police officers lead everyday lives as part of our society. “[We need to] relate to the policemen who work in Saint Lucia - they are both men and women, they are mothers, they are fathers, husbands, sons [and] human beings. They live in our society. Let us treat them as that and work with them so they can carry out their duties.”

Poyotte says many do not understand the difficult job law enforcement officers have. She says the public needs to change its perception of the police. “When the police have to go out there in the forest and carry out a raid, they are taking a chance with their lives to protect us - in the middle of the night, while we are at home sleeping. A police officer could easily say they are not going or they will not do it, but they do have the courage to go out there. And we need to applaud these officers for that kind of courage and sacrifice,” she said in commendation of the police. While the RSLPF has a press office, she says law enforcement needs to make the public aware of the work they do a bit more. “One of the things I have articulated is some people do not understand the scope of work of the police officers, as well as the length and breadth and the extent to which they go to protect Saint Lucia.”

The Minister’s statements follow threatened non-compliance to police instructions by UWP protestors on Saturday, October 14, 2023.