Ausbert Regis Contracted To Assist With Saint Lucia School Safety, Security

The Ministry of Education has contracted former Police Commissioner Ausbert Regis to assist with school safety and security.

And the National Principals Association (NPA) President, Valerie St. Helene-Henry, described the move as ‘long overdue’.

“We want to see action on our immediate concerns to help allay our fears,” the NPA President told St Lucia Times.

Just recently, a break-in occurred at the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School.

Education Minister Shawn Edward told reporters that the former Police Commissioner’s security contract would initially be six months.

Regis, a security expert, would be part of the Education Ministry’s staff.

His appointment follows a recent deadly gun violence upsurge in Vieux Fort that forced the temporary closure of schools.

The institutions have since reopened.

But the Minister of Education told reporters that the former top cop’s appointment was not a response to what happened in Vieux Fort.

“For a long time we have been speaking about school security. We had been at the discussion table with the Saint Lucia Teachers Union and other stakeholder agencies in the extended education family, and I think Mr. Regis is an asset,” Edward told reporters.

“He is a very good addition to our staff, and his responsibility is to work with existing security personnel in education to see how best we can bolster our own security apparatus,” the Minister stated.

In addition, Edward pointed to the former Police Commissioner’s disaster management skills as being helpful to the Ministry of Education, considering that school buildings are shelters in times of disaster.

Regarding the cost to the government, the Minister said he was not, at the time, able to speak to the exact sum.

“But I can always make that information available to you later this week,” Edward told reporters.