Saint Lucia’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Daarsrean Greene
plans to hold a news conference next week to update the nation on several matters referred to his Office.
According to a release from Greene’s Office, the June 19 press conference will include an update on the fatal police shooting of five men on May 5, 2011, in Vieux Fort.
Kevin Ferdinand, Rosarius Marquis, John Baptiste MacFarlane, Mitchell Cadette, and Allen Louisy, dubbed ‘The Vieux Fort Five’, sustained fatal gunshot injuries when officers allegedly intercepted a robbery.
Human Rights advocate and Attorney at Law Mary Francis, representing Allen Louisy’s mother, has consistently called for justice.
In an interview with St. Lucia Times last month, Francis defended the DPP and his Office against accusations that they were responsible for delays after nine jurors deemed the police action unlawful at a June 2016 inquest.
The National Centre for Legal Aid and Human Rights Executive Director said she had reliable information that the police hierarchy had ignored the DPP’s advice that there was a case to answer.
The fatal police shooting of the ‘Vieux Fort Five’ was among a wave of killings that occurred between 2010 and 2011 as part of Operation Restore Confidence (ORC).
ORC was a police response to a violent crime wave at the time.
In addition to the Vieux Fort Five case, the DPP will also provide updates including the following other matters:
Reginald ‘Bage’ Jean – Shot and killed by the Police on February 28, 2011 at Marchand
Dwight Henry – Shot and killed by the Police on April 12, 2011, in the Marigot Quarter of Anse La Raye.
Chakadan Daniel – Found dead while in police custody at the Micoud Police Station on October 23, 2013.
Kimberly De Leon – Shot and killed at her residence on October 29, 2018
Arnold Joseph – Shot and killed by the Police on May 22, 2019
Oliver Gobat- Killed on April 25, 2014.
The news conference to provide updates on the homicides will take place from 10:30 a.m.
The venue will be the Government Information Service (GIS) studio located at Hewanorra House, Pointe Seraphine, Castries.
The invitation for the media to attend noted that the event is primarily to update the nation on the status of matters referred to the DPP’s Office that continue to generate ‘great public interest and concern’.
“The media will thereafter have the opportunity to ask questions not limited to the updates provided,” the invitation stated.
” It is intended for the general public through this press conference to gain greater insight into the Crown Prosecution Service which will foster a better understanding and appreciation for the Office’s functions,” it explained.
