Amid concerns that the courts may be dropping the ball in the fight against crime with slaps on the wrist for severe offences and bail for gun-related crime, Acting Police Commissioner Verne Garde has expressed confidence in the judiciary.
“Let me register my confidence in the judicial process in Saint Lucia. We have very competent judges and magistrates that assist in the judicial process generally,” Garde told St. Lucia Times.
He disclosed that police seized more than nine illegal firearms within eighteen days, amounting to one firearm every other day.
Garde said all the matters are before the court.
“We must allow the judiciary and the judicial process to take its natural course,” he stated
Garde said the issue of serious crime in the region and globally was serious, and Saint Lucia must do all it can to improve the situation.
He noted that the RSLPF had ‘moved aggressively’ to manage serious crime over the past month and a half.
In this regard, Garde spoke of a ‘forensic approach’ to dealing with illegal guns and ammunition.
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So the top cop says the issue is not in the court rooms. So then where does the issue lie?
How many times do I have to say that you cannot prosecute criminals if the evidence is not strong?
Recently read about sixty plus firearms seized that is obviously a good thing .
I have a few questions in response to seizure.
1. Were any individuals arrested and charged
2.Are the guns safely destroyed
3.Are the guns fingerprinted and DNA tested
4Are the guns ballistic checked to ascertain whether they have been illegally discharged.
Commissioner Garde has certainly approached his role in a bullish positive way , however he will be judged on performance, in fact there is room to consider senior police pay being performance related.
Currently regardless of performance these guys get paid. There is a lot of talk talk , we hear of increased resources new vehicles what is the desired outcome for these additional aids.
The police must be aware of the effect of the fear of crime , let’s get quarterly figures on burglary, car thefts, robbery.
All we get reported is murders .
Simply the current approach has failed , if you do the same things you get the same result …it’s time for an alternative approach to crime fighting
See my comments here:
https://stluciatimes.com/166671/2024/10/police-recover-over-68-illegal-guns-so-far-in-2024/#comments