Saint Lucia has experienced a surge in gun-related violence over the past week.

Addressing the concerning trend, the Minister for Crime Prevention and Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Jeremiah Norbert, spoke on the roles of both the police and the government in tackling crime and strengthening public safety efforts.

“I think the time is right where, if the public is demanding more, we have to call on the police to do more. As a government, our job is to provide policy guidance. Crime fighting is left to the professionals who are trained to do so, and we have an agency tasked with that responsibility.
“We have had conversations with the police about what our expectations are as a government, and when we have these conversations, they make requests for resources. We have done a fair job in providing these resources and we have been given a guarantee that the police will be intensifying their efforts.”

The Minister emphasized that public cooperation is needed to effectively enforce law and order, adding that those responsible for criminal activities will be held accountable.

“We have a few individuals who have become very brazen and show very little concern about life. This government will stop at absolutely nothing to ensure that this comes to a halt. These individuals who engage in criminal activities have families, some of whom are very aware of these activities and who actually benefit from the proceeds of crime–and I speak from the standpoint of a former policeman who has dealt with intelligence. The police have been asked to conduct thorough investigations, and anybody who is found to be guilty or who’s found to be aiding and abetting, or who is found to be harboring criminals, they too will be brought to face the full brunt of the law.”

The minister made it clear that unsubstantiated claims of a lack employment and social programs will not be accepted as justifications for crime, noting several social intervention initiatives that have been implemented.

“This government has done too much to provide alternatives to crime,” he said. “We have so many social programs. Some will say there are no jobs, but right now certain investors have to import labor because they cannot find individuals to work. So it is not a situation about not having jobs. We have implemented the TVET Institute so that those young men and young women who may not be inclined to go down the road of academia have alternatives. This government continues to invest to provide opportunities for young people so using an excuse in order to turn to crime will not be accepted.”

He reiterated that as long as the police operate within the parameters of the law, they have the full support of the government to bring the crime surge to a halt.