Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) Candidate for Laborie, Laura Jn Pierre, called on Tuesday for an independent commission of inquiry, led by regional or international investigators, into the long-standing criminal cases of Chakadan Daniel and Kimberly De Leon, after police revealed last Thursday that critical exhibits are missing.
Police Commissioner Verne Garde confirmed that the noose from the 2013 hanging death of 22-year-old Daniel in a Micoud Police Station cell has gone missing, leaving the RSLPF unable to examine it. Separately, Garde disclosed that evidence in the 2018 fatal shooting of De Leon, a mother of two at her Morne Fortune home, was also unaccounted for.
Both cases sparked public outrage and calls for justice.
Speaking at the UWP press briefing, Jn Pierre said the details of the commissioner’s update have “grave implications” for Saint Lucia and the justice system.
“When evidence disappears, the result is a direct assault on justice and a devastating blow to the integrity of our democracy,” she said.
Jn Pierre called for reforms in evidence handling, including digitisation, stronger chain of custody protocols and external audits. She also called for the creation of a civilian oversight body with powers to investigate and prosecute police misconduct, as well as mandatory parliamentary hearings with public reporting on cases involving state agencies.
Her comments came one day after Prime Minister and Minister for National Security Philip J. Pierre addressed the missing evidence at a cabinet press briefing.
“It’s not the best news, but I expect the police to use all their investigative powers to see how these exhibits disappeared,” Pierre said.
He reiterated condolences to the victims’ families and noted the incidents occurred before he held the national security portfolio. “It’s very concerning and I hope the police leave no stone unturned. It can’t be a cold case,” he added.
Jn Pierre said the loss of evidence would further erode public trust and damage confidence in the rule of law, describing it as symptomatic of “a democracy where justice is inaccessible or selectively applied and ceases to function for the people it claims to serve”.
She also warned of negative impacts on police officers “who are willing to go out there and do their jobs to the best of their abilities”.
You all are nickels and five cents (aka the same) – period.
I agree with you L. Jn Pierre 110% but, it is not the first time nor will it be the last. Despite the implementation of new procedures in handling evidence, having a civilian body to carry out investigations or audits, and bringing in international parties, it will always be the same results every time.
So what does it matter if it happened before or during your time, Mr Pierre? You people really need to stop playing politics with every single thing in this state of St Lucia. What example are setting? Garde is going to say the same thing, the COP before him will say it was before her time, and so will Milton.
We need solutions and actionable results, not school children excuses, “The dog ate my homework” 🙄
As far as I am concerned and based on experience – St. Lucia is governed by politics and political affiliations regardless of the party. I left St. Lucia because of politics and I will stay away because of politics.
I have never voted in St. Lucia – but I had a terrible experience after graduation from a secretarial school. I applied and got an interview for a job in the government buildings. I went for the interview and took a test of stenography, typing test etc. I passed with flying colors.
I was then told to sit and wait – while waiting I overheard the supervisor a female say “we cannot give her the job because her grandmother is a????? — she mentioned the name of the party. So, I was denied the job because of my grandmother who by the way made great contributions to St. Lucia God rest her soul.
Because of my grandmother’s party affiliation – not mine – as stated previously, I was not old enough to even vote at that time. I left St. Lucia a few month after that disgusting experience.
You all Lucians need to stop with the political drama – because your country will subsequently suffer as a result. You all politicians want to be VERY relevant and put on pedestals – you all want to be worshipped and glorified and the citizens fall in line accordingly – WHAT A BIG JOKE.
No matter who is in power – the politics and the drama continues.
All government agencies as well as NGOs needs 100 percent transparency. However, I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel in that area. I literally had to hire an attorney to acquire my birth certificate after encountering numerous roadblocks and wasting time even though I complied with all their requirements established by that agency for obtaining same.
In addition, on the government website it states if you have an issue with an agency contact the agency – MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE —
Godspeed.