In recent weeks, several videos involving citizens and the police have surfaced on social media and gone viral. Some depict conflicts between drivers and officers during traffic checks. In a few instances, drivers appear unwilling to comply, citing knowledge of “their rights”, while in others, police officers can be heard shouting expletives.
Among the alleged offences are driving with “bald tyres” and tinted windscreens – infractions that, as St Lucia Times has learned, do not warrant arrest or vehicle impoundment.
We firmly believe in and support the upholding of the law by every citizen, including the police. We also commend the work of law enforcement, particularly traffic officers, who have recently been more visible in curbing the recklessness that has plagued our roads.
That said, while the head of the Traffic Department has vowed to investigate recent complaints against officers, we believe a broader overhaul in police-community relations is necessary.
These viral videos have overshadowed some of the RSLPF’s commendable efforts, underscoring the need for improved community engagement strategies, public relations, customer service training and stress management for officers.
What’s concerning, however, is not just the frequency of these videos, many of which cast the police in a negative light, but also the silence from civil society groups and other prominent organisations. While ordinary citizens have been vocal on social media, these traditional advocates have remained conspicuously quiet on these and other issues brought to light online.
We’ve seen footage of an elderly man, offering no resistance, being manhandled by officers. We’ve heard workers decry unfair treatment by employers. Parents have cried out for help after their children faced bullying at school. Individuals with mental health struggles have been mistreated in clear view of cameras.
Yet where are the once active voices of civil society? The activists, the concerned citizens’ groups?
Today, it seems the only voices we hear are those on social media expressing frustration, demanding answers, and holding the system accountable.
Occasionally, mainstream media outlets follow up, but too often, attempts to seek insight from civil society representatives or marginalised groups yield nothing.
Instead, we’re left with sound bites from government officials, offering either dismissive remarks or carefully spun responses.
So what has happened to our civil society groups?
Is fear of victimisation keeping them silent?
Have they suddenly gone passive?
Or are we to believe we now live in a utopia where no advocacy is needed?
In thriving democracies, civil society plays a crucial role in driving change and holding leaders and institutions accountable. Yet here, it seems these duties have been outsourced to social media.
By their very nature, civil society organisations are meant to advocate for people’s rights, press for accountability and bridge the gap between the state and society. They should amplify the voices of the marginalised, and push for public safety, education, environmental responsibility and economic justice.
If that link is broken, or worse, nonexistent, the consequences are dire. A society without these checks risks descending further into decay and chaos.
