Home Affairs Minister Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte called for regional unity in the battle against crime in an address to Monday’s launch of the Regional Security System (RSS) Unity Exercise (UNEX).
Saint Lucia will host the exercise from April 3 to 14, 2024.
Dr. Albert-Poyotte recalled mentioning in other forums that people in regional administration find excuses for not coming together.
However, she declared that the criminals do not have such formalities.
“They are more united than us and on that basis I see the need for this gathering today to be more than critical because we have to remain united in order to fight those with criminal minds and criminal intentions,” the Babonneau MP stated.
“Those of us law abiding citizens must remain united,” Albert-Poyotte stated.
She also thanked the RSS for choosing Saint Lucia to launch UNEX.
In addition, she expressed gratitude to the RSS for responding to Saint Lucia’s call for assistance in March this year by deploying security personnel on the ground to help combat gun crime in the South of the Island.
The Minister explained that the presence of RSS troops in Saint Lucia had boosted the human resource and technical capability to deal with crime.
“Since the arrival of RSS officers, the unparalleled escalation in violent gun crimes had abated significantly and we want to place on record our gratitude for your invaluable support over the last few months,” Albert-Poyotte said.
The UNEX exercise, which Saint Lucia will host next year, will see participation from security forces from the eight Member States of the RSS.
Regional and international partners will also participate.
UNEX aims to improve mechanisms for regional cooperation within the RSS in response to security issues such as drug trafficking, terrorism, and other threats to border security.
