Monday afternoon’s brazen shooting has angered the leaders of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), who are calling for a tougher stance on crime from the government and law enforcement.
Jaheim Papius of Babonneau was gunned down at Derek Walcott Square in Castries while another man was in critical condition.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 pm.
Speaking on Tuesday, UWP political leader Allen Chastanet said criminals have become too emboldened, and Monday’s incident could have resulted in the loss of numerous lives.
“Yesterday’s incident in Derek Walcott Square is too harsh of a reminder to all of us that all is not well in this country. You heard the story, it’s not for me to say, of a man taking his son to get registered and how easily the stray bullets could have either hit him or his son?” He said.
Saint Lucia recorded 75 homicides in 2023, 70 of which were classified as murders, four police-related shooting deaths, and one unclassified death.
Seventy-two homicides were recorded in 2022, with 66 being murders, 4 being police-related deaths, and two being unclassified.
In 2021, there were 75 recorded homicides, 70 of which were murders, 2 were police-related deaths, and three were unclassified.
UWP Public Relations Officer Lenard’ Spider’ Montoute said the number of Saint Lucians who lost their lives over the past few years is too numerous.
He urged the government to get a handle on the current situation. “We must have a value on life. In the last three years, about 300 Saint Lucians were murdered in Saint Lucia, and to date, we have a government who is clueless as to what to do. They say nothing, they do nothing, they simply preside over the worst crime wave that we have had in the history of Saint Lucia, where on two occasions we have equaled the record of 75 homicides in one year,” he said.
“This year, unfortunately, we seem well on course to surpass that record,” Montoute declared.
Law and order is gone in this place. Some power must be conducting an experiment on this unsuspecting populace. Don’t enforce laws and measure how long it takes for a country to fall into total anarchy. Hard to understand why police turn a blind eye to all the offences we see daily. Hard to understand why the politicians refuse to implement tougher gun control laws when this is the primary cause of homicides in this place. Hard to understand why the judiciary is so lax on punishing criminals offering them bail for gun crimes. It is simply baffling.
Crossfire will not differentiate between who is SLP or UWP – no one in St. Lucia is safe. As for me, I am neither UWP or SLP. The point is – you all politicians live on island; therefore put politics, egos and pride aside and rescue St. Lucia before it is too late for all of you who reside on island – just saying.
I could not believe this was happening in the Derek Walcott Square – he must be turning over in his grave for sure. I rest my case…………
GODLINESS = LAWLINESS
These Satanic & unlawful acts are not just happening today, you might remember the time when a bunch entered the Church service, I think it was Christmas time and set fire on many attendants and a Nun was bitterly Clobbered to death; I think two of the leaders are still in Jail serving time for these crimes. The attack on this Church where many of my relatives, my own Mom & Dad were memorialized, where people regularly go silently to warship and pray, is disrespected and blood is shed though on the outside, not on a ‘Hill far away’ but getting too close for my liking;
Now a Stylized ‘ Law extraordinary office Building ‘ is being built right in front the main entrance to this, our blessed Church, ond what next? LORD be merciful, be gracious unto us.
As usual, and this is the same for both major political parties, when in Opposition, they have all the answers, all the solutions, however, once in office, nothing changes. Just so sick and tired of them all.
Admittedly, we have a Crime problem. No government can stop crime,you can have all the tough measures in place,it will not stop. These young men must put their ego aside to stop this lawlessness.
Spider Montoute, is the last person to talk about crime and let’s not forget the famous quote. ” Kenny can’t do it,but I will do it, whilst hitting his chest.
All the noise making is just a shame, what new plan does the,UWP, has to lower the crime rate.
Godlessness = Lawlessness:
Please guys, do not politicize these crimes; its been happening irrespective of who the hell is in power; its been happening due to hate, envy, theft, trafficking in Drugs & competing with other rival gangs for power. The Police cant see everything, they cannot be every where but I still wont excuse them. A lot of the fault lay at the Court/our Law/and the Magistrates – ( find GOD in your lives )
Yawwwwn……as per usual the same yellow bellows. The question we have been asking since they were in power and up to now they can’t answer it to date WHAT IS YOUR CRIME PLAN FOR ST LUCIA ?? Oh well I guess we will never know because THEY DONT HAVE ANY. There there there more yellow bellows more yellow bellows and the beat goes on……Allan it’s nice to see you are finally pronouncing the word “Crime” since thrown out of office there there there we know you gold spoon never allowed it.
Isn’t it ironic that a square once called Place d’Arm and was the location for the execution by guillotine of royalist during the French revolution of 1789 is now that infamous location for the demise of citizens? If the government was interested in reducing crime, they would find a way to do it. But as usual, they have no clue, no plan, no vision, no Idea. The opposition is only using this dire state of affairs to score political points since they themselves were useless handling the crime scourge during their incumbency.
Here is the solution: a multi pronged approach.
To solve this nightmare masquerading as civil society, you tackle the issue from the home. Plain and simple. You won’t get an immediate resolution to the crime issue but you are putting in place measures that will deal with persons who are others exposed to poor parenting, poor educational attainment, dysfunctional families etc etc. Education education education education. This is key to making citizens who a functional and contributing positively to societal life. Barbados has a greater population by number than Saint Lucia yet their crime rate is way lower than Saint Lucia’s. One reason amongst many is the literacy level and educational attainment in Barbados. Education makes you better able to make informed and rational choices. The statistics of both countries shows this.
Convicted criminals should be deal with harshly. They can be dealt with harshly while respecting their human rights. Simple. Increase the sentencing for gun possession and violence. No bail granted and if bail is granted for minor infractions, rump up the bail fees so high making it unpalatable for criminals.
Bring back the death penalty for first degree murder. Once the courts have found you guilty without a doubt that you committed a murder in first degree, the forensic evidence proves it, eye witness corroborates it, and there is no doubt in the assessment of the courts that a suspect is guilty of first degree murder…then death penalty. Once that verdict is reached, the accused now have a month to challenge the verdict on appeal and request a retrial….once that challenge fails and the guilt verdict for first degree murder is upheld by the courts…then the death penalty must be implemented within two weeks of the court’s verdict. Trust me…if a criminal knows he/she will loose their lives six weeks after convicted of first degree murder, they will likely think twice before they murder someone. They say death penalty does not stop murders but it surely gets rid of undesirables in society and those who think of committing murder will think twice. No keeping convicted criminals on death row for decades being fed by tax payers money. Court finds you guilty of first degree murder, you get an appeal, once appeal fails, your life is forfeited within two weeks. Criminals will think twice with that quick judgement on the books…..Second degree murder will need harsh treatment too making it unpalatable for people to commit such crimes…
Citizens must feel they have a stake in society and that their contributions are part of the greater good of the nation. Perhaps have an honour system that recognises the good that the ordinary citizens does, not just the well to do and elite of society.
There is much that can be done to better society but if the leaders have no vision then society will continue to face these dire state of affairs.
Very Simple ….bring in some Jamiacan police …they will deal with these clowns that call themselves shottas ….
Uwp has to admit that the crime today was inherited from them. Who was involved in the kidnapping? Who said Kenny could not do it but I will? Shame on all you UWPs
Before me there was !!!!
Do not put the charriot before the horse !
O LORD, “God of Israël give Pierre success and show kindness to St Lucians 🇱🇨,
May the ennemies be put to silence !!!!!!
@C-Wiz you are correct and your post speaks volumes – what’s frightening is that the powers that be don’t seem to understand – perhaps someone can ask them to read your post for some insight. @C-WIz thanks again for sharing.