The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) traffic department is set to undergo a major rebrand, according to Police Commissioner Verne Garde.
Garde says that by Tuesday, December 17, 45 new officers will join the traffic unit after completing training. Additionally, 45 motorcycle outriders will be trained, with 15 of them assigned to help the unit. Another 22 Special Police Constables (SPC’s) will also be hired and deployed to the traffic unit.
Garde emphasised a proactive approach to addressing road safety and crime. “To afford better management at the traffic area, we will also rebrand the traffic unit,” he announced. Starting January 1, 2025, the unit will be renamed the Department of Road Safety and Traffic Investigations.
“All of that is part of our plan to ensure 2025 is a different year for crime management and road safety,” Garde explained. He also urged the public to take heed, stating that those who break the law should be prepared for increased enforcement.
“Persons who are in conflict with the law will have to watch out.” Verne Garde said.
The warning came amid an alarming surge in road incidents, the latest occurring at Odsan on Sunday night, resulting in injuries to two men and a woman.
The emergency responders had to free two of the victims who were trapped after the head-on collision involving a Honda Civic and a Mitsubishi L200.
The Saint Lucia Fire Service (SLFS) received a call for assistance at about 8:20 pm, responding with ambulances from the Castries, Gros Islet, and Dennery fire stations to transport the injured to the hospital.
Good approach Verne but it doesn’t matter if you have 1000 policemen on the road. Once the bail system doesn’t change you will just be going in circles. The bail system is the biggest obstruction to curtailing crime in St Lucia. Cow would have been at least on a $500,000-$1,000,000 ball in the U.S and especially any American territory for attempted murder. This is to ensure the criminal element remain behind bars so that decent people can live a free life without fear. Cow will now finish the job. You’ll are just jokers in St Lucia. I don’t see this initiative as a very effective deterrence to control crime but it’s a start. At least the police force is getting more numbers and better organized. Let’s hope all goes well.
I welcome the initiative, however, the changing of name for the department means nothing. The Officer’s needs to be out there to do their jobs, fearlessly without favor for family and friends. Vetting is a key component and rid out the rotten ones. Some of the violaters needs to be stopped.
Those guys with the extended exhaust pipes, making these loud explosion at 2 in the morning needs to be prosecuted, especially in the, Bexon community, the biker’s needs to be stopped the loud music, reaping out your heart and those extra bright LED lights, is a nightmare.
Is it the lack of officers that’s the problem or the fact that the 2 main causes of road accidents are drunk driving and speeding
What do u have in place to curb this.police keeps charging persons for not wearing seat belt which does not cause accidents.
Make it make sense
End that automatic driving school business as a start
Nothing will change until the police actually chase offenders and pull them over for infractions. Like: overtaking on a solid white line, overtaking on a hill, overtaking on a curve, motorbikes driving the white line (police do this too!), speeding, drunk driving, talking on phone or texting while driving. All the police do now is set up roadblocks to stop drivers for no sticker, no seatbelt, or one headlight. We have all the laws we need. So let’s start enforcing them!