The Government of Saint Lucia has placed citizen safety high on its medium term development agenda as it seeks to reduce serious crimes by 45 percent by the year 2022. Part of the approach is to improve policing by increasing the number of officers.

Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet, on Sep. 20, addressed the graduating class of special reserve officers. He said that the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has responded positively to the changes.

“The standards of the facility were poor, the amount of equipment was inadequate, and the court system almost seemed like it was against us rather than with us,” he said. “My government has made every effort to increase the amount of resources that the police have. Today, you are evidence of that next step in recognizing that we need to have more officers in the streets.”

It is intended that the 40 new special reserve officers will be assigned to key areas in Castries, Micoud, Vieux Fort and Soufriere.

Commandant of the Police Academy, Lesenta Desir Dolor, welcomed the graduating class.

“Today is an important day for the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) and Saint Lucia by extension because you have added to the number of officers patrolling the streets of Saint Lucia,” she said. “On behalf of the RSLPF I welcome all of you to the commencement exercise of the special reserve police course.”

The training exercise lasted for three weeks.