Permit me this opportunity to extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and those touched by Saturday’s senseless tragedy.
What took place on Saturday is a blot against the good name of Saint Lucia.
It was not a good day for our country. Let me be clear, while the overwhelming majority of Saint Lucians are law-abiding, most God-fearing, there are some who, for one reason or another, do not believe that the law applies to them. And Saturday was a reflection of this sad reality. Criminals now feel emboldened. They feel empowered. They believe that the streets belong to them. And sadly, they now believe that with one phone call, they can evade justice by reaching their Boss.
This is not altogether surprising:
- When exhibits and evidence critical to the prosecution of cases disappear from the custody of law enforcement.
- When the K9 unit established by the UWP government to interdict contraband, including drugs and weapons, is disbanded.
- When Officer Tyson dies under suspicious circumstances.
- When the detection equipment at our ports is destroyed leaving us exposed and vulnerable to those who mean to do our citizens harm.
Allowing our streets to be flooded with weapons of war, assault weapons.
But beyond providing the conditions for drugs and arms to flood our streets, this Government has also condoned and has been complicit in this criminality.
How can a government exercise moral authority when:
- It has brought into Cabinet a man accused of being a drug dealer and money launderer. Someone that the Labour Party accused based on evidence they have.
- Someone who was made persona non grata by the United States.
- Someone brought before the courts for improper use of a firearm.
But also someone who on a weekly basis uses his platform to engage in the most vicious, vile, misogynistic attacks against our women. But if this is not bad enough, it is the same Government that has allowed questions related to maladministration in the CIP programme to go unanswered. Including and specifically, the Labour Party government’s involvement with elements implicated in trans-national crime in Europe.
It is the same Government that has taken every opportunity not to support our hard-working law enforcement officers, but to instil fear, reward bad behaviour, and politicise promotions within the ranks of the police force.
This is not alarming. This is damning. It would appear that the institutions that we have reposed confidence in to safeguard our country, our institutions, indeed public trust, are systematically undermined. Saint Lucians We are in trouble. For those of us who believe that the only victims of bloody Saturday were those who lost their lives and those injured,
I say to you that we are all victims of this tragedy:
- It has eroded public trust and increased fear in all of us.
- It has caused trauma for those bystanders and those who apprehended fear from what took place.
- Some of us now feel unsafe in spaces that should be community-centred and welcoming.
- This can lead to lasting psychological effects.
It has an impact on business: - How many of us now feel more uneasy to go to the market next Saturday?
- In circumstances where our retailers, our vendors, our craftspeople are already struggling, what impact will this have on sales?
- Small businesses, which are the backbone of the local economy, cannot thrive in a climate of fear.
- Tourism is our leading sector contributing meaningfully to economic activity and employment, this epidemic of violence dents our reputation as a safe place to visit.
- And if left unchecked, we will all suffer the impact of lower visitor arrivals and fear and apprehension of our tourists from visiting our city.
It impacts social services: - It puts additional strain on our already overburdened hospitals and law enforcement.
So now that under this Philip J Pierre administration, Saint Lucia has the dubious reputation of having the highest incidence of homicide in the world, in any population under 200,000. What concrete measures will you take?
On behalf of the people of this country we demand answers to the following questions:
- What support is being given to those who witnessed that tragedy on Saturday, have psychologists and counsellors reached out, particularly to the young people who bore witness?
- What measures will be instituted to give confidence to vendors and the public next Saturday, will there be a ramped-up police presence?
- Will the Government commit to better lighting/security and the active use of CCTV cameras in commercial spaces?
- What is the plan for better community partnerships, including with churches, schools, youth groups, in addressing root causes of violence?
- Will the Government commit to re-introducing prayer into schools? We are a Christian nation and we will continue to fail until we put God first.
Finally, will the Prime Minister, Honourable Philip J Pierre take the long overdue and responsible decision of firing, Richard Frederick from your Cabinet?
We are good people, Saint Lucians are good, honest people, all we want is the best for ourselves, our children and that tomorrow will be a little better than yesterday.
This Government has failed on their most sacred and fundamental responsibility, which is our safety.
I call on this administration, that if you are unwilling or unable to take the necessary steps to halt our slide into the abyss, dissolve Parliament and let the people decide on what is best for themselves and this country that we so love.
Stephen Fevrier
