Castries Central MP Richard Frederick has issued an appeal for an end to the criminal activity that has been plaguing the City and for more assistance from law enforcement officials.
His impassioned call came during his weekly talk show when he expressed frustration over the persistent harassment of passersby by individuals who frequent the CDC area in the heart of the City. Calling them out by name, he demanded that they stop their deviant behaviour.
“I am unhappy. Sometimes I pass by the CDC, I see those thugs there. I see them there and I don’t call them because, in my view, you cannot want to associate with me when all you want to do is crime. I have a problem with that,” Frederick told his audience last Thursday.
The MP explained that despite efforts to curb criminal activities, including working with law enforcement with a view of returning peace to the City, the problems persist.
“I had some SSU [Special Services Unit] guys patrolling that area for me. I have a ‘No Loitering’ sign inside there, but basically, they ignore it. They line under the CDC and all they do is rob the tourists. That’s all they do. I am sick of it. I am tired of it and it has to stop,” he said.
Frederick called on top law enforcement officials to place added emphasis on the Central Castries area to put a stop to criminal and deviant conduct.
“This is getting too serious for us to take a lackadaisical approach. I’m calling on you, Mr. Commissioner. Please,” the MP pleaded.
Earlier this month, Acting Police Commissioner Verne Garde warned lawbreakers that the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force would take a tougher stance in 2025.
“2025 is a different year for crime and road safety, and persons who are in conflict with the law have to watch out!” he declared.
With the City bustling with visitors from the open cruise season, reports of muggings have also increased, prompting citizens to demand a stronger police presence on the streets.
They rob the locals too padna. The irony of this is they feel empowered because….. pitbull in office.
So you know the thugs in the CDC and all you do is asking the thugs to stop their criminality? Do you expect them to stop? You said you put no loitering signs in the area but they ignore it..so what do you expect. It’s obvious you have no clue as to how to approach this situation. Just offer mear words and platitudes while the thugs continue to plague society and destroy the country’s good name and reputation by robbing visitors. You policiticians are too clueless, pussyfooting with the criminals. If you know where the hotspots are, send in the SSU to clean up the place. You policiticians are letting this plague breed and fester like a putrid, pustulous lump. That lump must be lanced and cleaned otherwise you won’t have a society left.
Yeah ok RF. They worked for you at some point. Now you want them dead. I wonder why.
Is this ORC version 2 ? In the first ORC there was a black list the police followed. Your name was mentioned as a commander in chief of the first IRC. In this ORC about to go down, you have publicly given a black list. Is that how you want to start IRC version 2 ? Why is the list now coming out ?
Well, you said a lot of things on your show. Unfortunately, I did not hear anything you said. Instead, I heard the things you did not say. Welcome Port au Prince, St. Lucia. The streets of Castries are about to get bloody
More things change more they stay the same. Who’s listening?
It’s going to get much worse before it gets better. Frederick is only trying to generate faith, in the faithless public.
To understand the nightmare before our eyes, we must first understand the fundamentals. There is generation of males who flat out refuse to work. Pulling heist and scoring illegal game is more profitable. The police force members have lost their mojo, for fear of being hauled to court and prison. There is little deterrence in place. The high water mark being receiving bail, even after being caught with an illegal weapon.
There is no silver lining. No attempt has been made to increase prison accommodations. The manager at the top is clueless. Sorry to say, 2025 will only mirror 2024. Brace yourself for another year of the same.
I watched the clip and I must say that I am not impressed with the gentleman’s parlance. He seem to be preaching to deaf ears. There are many reasons why people commit crimes although there’s no excuse for doing so. The young folks in the area need to be engaged in activities which will be able to bring in an income. They need work and job prospects. What is the minister and MP doing for the boys in the area to get them into employment and other social activities to prevent them from causing mayhem on the streets of Castries?
Perhaps his government should create a safety net for these youngsters to move them away from a life of crime. Where is the safety net that you lot have provided? These kids see no future and so they have no choice but to resort to criminal activities to help them get by. You have left then with no choice sir.
I am appalled to hear this minister talking about licensed firearm holders. I don’t believe what I was hearing. How can you patronize or support anyone who carries firearms whether licensed or not? There is no justification for carrying weapon on persons. No whatsoever! Has this man gone barmy or what? People who carry licensed firearms will always find a reason to use it whether justly or unjustly. A lot of the killings on the island has been carried out by people with licensed forearms. I remember an incident in Vieux Fort where a security guard shot an innocent fisherman at Halcyon Days back in 1979 – The poor bloke lost his life needlessly just for wondering near the beach in Halcyon – There was absolutely no need for this killing. Police are the only ones who should carry guns in the island.
He then talks about sending in the SSU. Why SSU? The SSU are a brutal and unsavoury gang of men with badges who are a law unto themselves. They don’t respect the law and will gladly take the law into their own hands. I remember young Terry James who was snuffed out by them back in 1979. What did Terry James do? They took out Yamaha for no reason. They shot and killed Coupion from Vieux Fort as well – The list is endless. Where is the justice for these men? Why were they not arrested and brought before a court of law to be dealt with? … Oh No they were snuffed out without due process.
Some of these people who make these pronouncements have forgotten about their past. They have taken leave of their shady past and are now picking on the youngsters for no apparent reason other than to score brownie points. Tourists are being attacked all over the world and St Lucia is not the first nor will it be the last. A lot of these tourists themselves are no angels. A lot of them engage in all sorts of criminality in their respective countries. I live among them here in Europe and I see for myself what they are up to. He then goes on to call for the young blokes demise. That is a very low blow coming from a minister. How can you call for people from your constituency to be taken out. That is not a good thing to say. The very men he will need to vote for him come the next election… ‘Let He without sin cast the first stone’ – None of these useless politicians are able to do so…
This would be hilarious if it wasn’t so pathetic, sad and absurd. Many must be rolling in their graves. Yes Mr.Bossman.
Interesting. I see them there and I don’t call them because, in my view, you cannot want to associate with me when all you want to do is crime. His words , not mine. So that says to me that he knows them and he no longer wants to be associated with them. From long time I know this man has a lot to do with crime in SLU He is one of the most well protected persons in SLU, I know cause I have been to his house and observed his security detail. He is part of the problem.
I think if all else fails, then it is time to bring back Operation Restore Confidence and also to bring back Capital punishment for crimes like murder. Otherwise we will keep beating about the bush. Sure the human rights lawyer (or shud i say criminal rights lawyers) will want to make a hue and cry about this. But i think the rights of law abiding peace loving citizens and even tourists should take precedence over the rights of criminals and thugs. The day when the opposite happens is the day when the laws of our country become a joke.
As to the fourth comment there, not many would be rolling in their graves as cremation is becoming increasingly popular and in many cases more affordable, so why not say many would be blowing in the wind!
I watched the clip and I must say that I am not impressed with the gentleman’s parlance. He seem to be preaching to deaf ears. There are many reasons why people commit crimes although there’s no excuse for doing so. The young folks in the area need to be engaged in activities which will be able to bring in an income. They need work and job prospects. What is the minister and MP doing for the boys in the area to get them into employment and other social activities to prevent them from causing mayhem on the streets of Castries?
Perhaps his government should create a safety net for these youngsters to move them away from a life of crime. Where is the safety net that you lot have provided? These kids see no future and so they have no choice but to resort to criminal activities to help them get by. You have left then with no choice sir.
I am appalled to hear this minister talking about licensed firearm holders. I don’t believe what I was hearing. How can you patronize or support anyone who carries firearms whether licensed or not? There is no justification for carrying weapon on persons. No whatsoever! Has this man gone barmy or what? People who carry licensed firearms will always find a reason to use it whether justly or unjustly. A lot of the killings on the island has been carried out by people with licensed forearms. I remember an incident in Vieux Fort where a security guard shot an innocent fisherman at Halcyon Days back in 1979 – The poor bloke lost his life needlessly just for wondering near the beach in Halcyon – There was absolutely no need for this killing. Police are the only ones who should carry guns in the island.
He then talks about sending in the SSU. Why SSU? The SSU are a brutal and unsavoury gang of men with badges who are a law unto themselves. They don’t respect the law and will gladly take the law into their own hands. I remember young Terry James who was snuffed out by them back in 1979. What did Terry James do? They took out Yamaha for no reason. They shot and killed Coupion from Vieux Fort as well – The list is endless. Where is the justice for these men? Why were they not arrested and brought before a court of law to be dealt with? … Oh No they were snuffed out without due process.
Some of these people who make these pronouncements have forgotten about their past. They have taken leave of their shady past and are now picking on the youngsters for no apparent reason other than to score brownie points. Tourists are being attacked all over the world and St Lucia is not the first nor will it be the last. A lot of these tourists themselves are no angels. A lot of them engage in all sorts of criminality in their respective countries. I live among them here in Europe and I see for myself what they are up to. He then goes on to call for the young blokes demise. That is a very low blow coming from a minister. How can you call for people from your constituency to be taken out. That is not a good thing to say. The very men he will need to vote for him come the next election… ‘Let He without sin cast the first stone’ – None of these useless politicians can do this.
There are so many questions:
Who really benefited from Operation Restore Confidence?
How is “Thug” defined? …
Mwen meme épi-ou Richard 🤔…
Why is he hitting out at the youths of the area who may have voted for him to get to where he is today? One minute these politicians will be all for you and the next minute they will hit out at you…
If these boys are committing crimes in their area then there must be a reason why they are doing it. Has the minister thought about this before lashing out? These youths are frustrated and need jobs which they cannot find in the ghettos of Central Castries. Perhaps if they had jobs they would not be offending.
Bringing in the SSU will not improve things and will not get better. They will make it worst. He talked about licensed firearms holders. Where are we going with all these licensed firearms holders in St Lucia? Licensed firearms holders are responsible for more deaths in this country. There are so many instances where these holders used extreme force when they could have used reasonable force to contain the situation they found themselves in. I can go on but time will not permit me to do so. Having SSU and more firearms will not curb the crime epidemic in Central Castries. It will take more than a government minister’s soundbite to do so.
There is no way I would get off a cruise ship and walk around Castries because of the well reported crime that appears to be rampant.
I’ve watched this clip over and over and I’m literally afraid for the future of my country. As bad as the thugs are this is absolutely ludicrous coming from a government minister. In most countries in the world he would have been relieved of his duty by his leader or calls for his resignation would be flocking the airwaves but NOT IN ST LUCIA WHERE WE ARE HAPPY. The man has gone on the airwaves to threaten the lives of individuals. Why haven’t the Commissioner of police made a statement or launch an investigation into this?
Well he commanded the commissioner to set SSU on the thugs. I thought that was the minister of National Security or Home Affairs call not his. Where is Mary Francis? Despite their criminality these thugs should be helped to rehabilitate their lives not be subjected to dying a brutal death at his hands or that of the SSU. Kenny over to you cause I know you are condemning this in private but I need you to go public.