Fear is tightening its grip on Castries as gun violence escalates, with the latest attack striking Wilton’s Yard, leaving one dead and another injured in a suspected targeted assault.
The shooting, which erupted Tuesday morning, adds to a near-daily tally that has left the capital reeling.
Just yesterday, the sound of gunfire pierced the air in Marchand during broad daylight. No one was injured, but residents say the brazenness of the attack has left them unsettled and fearful. Over the past month, Marchand has endured several shootings, some fatal and others leaving multiple casualties.
The violence has not been confined to a single neighbourhood. On Sunday, one man was shot in Morne Du Don, just hours after a drive-by in New Village wounded two. Last week, a man known as “Chucky” from Leslie Land was killed in what is believed to have been a home invasion.
Despite the clustering of these events, police have not confirmed any links between them. Still, the intensity and frequency of the attacks have residents and public commentators calling for urgent action. Some have suggested that Castries be designated as an “escalated crime area”, a measure previously applied to Vieux Fort when that southern community faced its own surge in gun violence.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre addressed the crime issue during Monday’s pre-Cabinet press briefing, responding to questions about Opposition criticism of his administration’s crime strategy. He reaffirmed a policy of zero tolerance for crime and pointed to what he described as unprecedented support for the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force during his tenure, including the procurement of new equipment, upgrades to police facilities, acquisition of vehicles and officer recruitment.
“This crime situation is a regional situation, of great concern to every prime minister and should be of great concern to every politician,” Pierre said. “The United Workers Party cannot tell you one thing that they can do that will ensure the level of crime is decreased.”
He said the crime situation is one which should not be politicised.
One thing that can be done to ensure that the level of crime decreased is to get the police officers off the streets…stop all those roadblocks and harassment of the lower and middle class and go into the hot trouble spots to do police work…no seat belts do not shoot ppl.bad tires do not rob and kill ppl.3d number plates and tinted windscreen do not kill so why is every police officer so intent on correcting this.is it because it brings money to the coffers of the government which is their only concern.why is it a few grams of Marijuana is being intercepted in the mail leading to the arrest of multiple individuals and an entire container of cocaine shows up at a popular business place and no one gets reprimanded. Why is st lucia getting more and more politically biased?
@Lionheart, I am in agreement with you minus the bad tyre part. It would have a lot do with the situation at hand where someone or more can lose their lives because of a bad tyre on a vehicle.
With that said, you hit the nail on the head in regards to everything being politicised in the State of St Lucia. Pretty soon people will not be able to wear Red or Yellow without being guilty by association.
We do not have a police force anymore, it is all about doing other duties on the side for a quick couple hundreds and that is it.
There needs to be an upgrade to the Transport system. Why should one get a ticket for not displaying a sticker on their windscreen? Something that causes an interference to drivers being stuck to a windscreen.