This announcement came during a time when the Prime Minister says attempts are being made to destabilise the police force. Pierre says his administration remains committed to delivering justice reform for the people of Saint Lucia.
“I will be bothering [NIPRO] also for the Halls of Justice. In January we are turning the sod for the Halls of Justice. The Caribbean Court of Justice is an illustration that this government does not believe that colonialism has a conscience. We have confidence in our local judges and we have confidence in our judiciary,” the Prime Minister said.
In this year’s Throne Speech, Acting Governor General H.E Cyril Errol Charles outlined the government’s intention to address the backlog of cases currently in the Courts. “[The Halls of Justice] will consolidate the magistrate’s court, the family court, the commercial court, and the High Courts, and other administrative support services, including the civil and criminal registries. Several other initiatives aimed at reducing the backlog of cases and reduction of the remand population at Bordelais will be continued this year,” Charles said in his throne speech. In this year’s Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, over EC $2 million was allocated to the Swift Justice Project to address the backlog of cases in the justice system.
The Prime Minister also announced the separation of “national security” from the Department of Home Affairs. This, Pierre adds, will provide clarity for funds which will be directed to the police force.
“In the next budget, we are going to have a dedicated Ministry of National Security. So you (the RSLPF) will have your own head in the estimates. Right now, you share the same head with Home Affairs and sometimes that creates a little bit of confusion. The Ministry [of National Security] will have its own expenses, and its own Permanent Secretary and will be taken away from the Ministry of Home Affairs,” Pierre stated.
Currently, the RSLPF benefits from government investment in the form of brand-new vehicles, investigative technology and equipment, and increased firearms, and ammunition.