Police officers arrested a man who snatched a mobile telephone and other items from a female visitor in Castries on Friday and fled.
The woman had disembarked from a visiting cruise ship.
According to reports, the incident unfolded at about 11:15 am near the Vendors’ Arcade.
The President of the Saint Lucia Craft and Dry Goods Vendors Association, Peter ‘Ras Ipa’ Isaac, told St Lucia Times that such occurrences are bad for business.
“When things like that happen and the word spreads it only discourages people from disembarking from the cruise ships,” Isaac asserted.
In addition, he explained other passengers who had already disembarked might return to their ships.
Isaac felt that generally Saint Lucians recognise the importance of tourism, its benefits, and the ripple effect that crimes against and harassment of visitors can have.
But he explained that some who are economically or otherwise in a bad situation might not have that mindset.
In this regard, Isaac spoke of the need to address the social issues contributing to crime.
Recalling Friday’s phone snatching incident, Isaac told St Lucia Times that a young man assisted in apprehending the perpetrator.
He described the perpetrator as a ‘well known character’ around the vendors’ arcade but not known to be involved in such ‘unsavoury behaviour.’
That is very bad as something so personal as a phone but then again those guy refuse to go and work for 3 to 4 dollars an hour working 12 to 18 hour shifts without overtime so the system and the people who we elect has to be blame for the quagmire that we are in today
@Fire Burn. What @ssery you talking about? Some of these fellas don’t want to work either. The quick buck is what they want, and they will do anything (including robbery) to get the that buck.
By the way, there are persons who would relish getting $600 per month (Better than stealing).
There seem to be four women Police; instead of Booking him for Court date, I would prefer 3 fat axx Police women to sit on him and let the other with Baton to beat the living crapola out of him, then drag his sorry ass to lock up for 3 days.
@Fire Burn (among many other names). Some of those guys have a poor work ethic. They simply don’t want to work and I can attest to it. Some of them view work as a thing for old people and squares. They are free spirits. I have worked for minimum wage in my life, but I took the viewpoint that it was better than nothing. I learned a bit which helped me onwards. These low paying jobs are only a foot in the door while you look for something better. If one views them as a permanent thing, then all is lost.
The law is too lenient here. Wip their a$$$ and wet the beds before sleeping.
Lazy basterds want easy life.
Ras Ipa, please do not bring economic factors or “social needs” of citizens into this particular discussion! Many of these phone-snatchers are criminals from the core who aren’t necessarily hungry. They simply crave to have “brand name” products or “high end” goods that they cannot afford — so they will cold-heartedly hurt, maim and kill decent people to satisfy their demented lusts for things they covet but have no desire to work for as long as they live!
THE SAMETHING I SAW HAPPENING IN BRAZIL. QUITE AN EVERYDAY THING ALL ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS AND SOUTH AMERICA. THE CUBANS ARE PULLING AWAY YOUR BAG WHILE RIDING CLOSE TO YOU. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT CAUSING A MAJOR PROBLEM OUT THERE. I AM ALSO SURPRISINGLY SHOCKED TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDING TO AN ISSUE WHICH INVOLVES A TOURIST MOBILE PHONE BEING SNATCHED AWAY BY THEIR OWN LOCAL CITIZEN OF ST. LUCIA. DO THEY RESPOND SO QUICKLY WHEN ITS A LOCAL TO LOCAL INCIDENT????
So many officers taking the fella down to be booked. Such excessive-ness is needed for the murders and more serious crimes. But you know why that can’t arrest criminals in that manner? it’s because they fear they may arrest their own colleague, family.
He needs his hand to be cut off if found guilty…This is the only way the ones attempting the same act will learn.Make use of the Square & Chop off their hands there for the public to see.The others will learn quite quickly.
I am not surprised at this, when 813 million dollars borrowed by a government and nothing can be shown as to what they did with it what will we expect?
Where is the Special Prosecutor?
These female officers eating WELL I see…
You,O God, who change the time,circumstances and the hearts of man, through prayers that changes everthing.
Heavenly Father, the great and awesome and everlasting God, the Father of both the righteous and unjust, jugement is yours.
May all those who have been stealing,must steal no more or no longer, but must work,doing something useful with their hands, that he may have something to share with those in need !!
I pray before your heavenly trone, with thanks given and praise,and forgivness of our sins,in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Sprit, which lives and dwells eternity and eternity…..
Commenter,
If those things are happening in Brazil,the policemen or guards must be sleeping,don’t take about the prisioners cell,the small four by four room for almost a hundred prisioners,who is always standing, when the tide comes,it is just the level of their obove throats…..
As for the prostitution,the time is six pm,if caught before time, will be beaten severly to death….