With Saint Lucia reeling from 12 homicides in less than two weeks, two United Workers Party (UWP) candidates on Tuesday unveiled what they described as a comprehensive crime plan to confront the crisis.
Their proposals come as public anxiety mounts and government ministers face growing pressure to respond.
At the party’s weekly press briefing, former Comptroller of Customs Peter Chiquot, the UWP’s Castries East candidate, delivered a sobering assessment of the nation’s security situation.
Chiquot started by saying that there comes a moment in the life of a nation when “we must stop making excuses and start making changes”.
“Today, I want to speak directly to you about the crisis of crime and violence that has been destroying families, crippling communities, and shaking the very foundation of our beloved Saint Lucia.”
Chiquot pointed to a steady rise in homicides since the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) took office in July 2021, with figures climbing from 74 in 2021 (from 55 in 2020) to 77 in 2024. So far in 2025, at least 60 killings have been recorded, 12 of them in just the past two weeks.
“We have a government that has surrendered to crime,” he charged. “A government clueless and incapable of leadership in the face of this nation’s crisis.
“We know that crime is not inevitable, we know that safety is possible, and we know that leadership, real leadership, makes the difference between fear and hope, between lawlessness and between excuses and results.”
Echoing Chiquot’s concerns, UWP deputy political leader Guy Joseph, who will contest the Castries South East seat, said in Kweyol that “violence is out of control in this country – random shootings with no fear of what is likely to happen.”
He questioned whether the current administration had the capacity or even the will to address the crisis.
Both candidates emphasised the need for urgent, coordinated action.
Chiquot outlined five pillars of the UWP’s crime plan, beginning with border security.
“Our borders have become gateways for illegal guns and drugs,” he said. “We will introduce a dedicated border control unit focused solely on intercepting weapons, narcotics, and contraband.”
He also proposed expanding the K-9 unit, citing its effectiveness in detecting smuggled items, and increasing use of non-intrusive scanners at ports.
Joseph, praising Chiquot’s expertise as a former customs chief, stressed that most homicides involved illegal firearms and underscored the importance of canine detection.
The second pillar involves the creation of a professional, independent crime scene investigations unit to ensure evidence is properly collected and preserved.
“Every piece of evidence will be handled with the highest standard so that criminals are held accountable and victims receive justice,” Chiquot said.
The third pillar targets judicial reform, including the introduction of bench trials to reduce delays and clear case backlogs.
“Safety is not just about touching criminals in the streets,” Chiquot added. “It is also about integrity in government.” He pledged that under a UWP administration, no one, regardless of rank or connections, would be above the law.
The final pillar centres on community engagement. Chiquot proposed a civilian oversight body for crime fighting, modelled after the National Emergency Management Advisory Committee (NEMAC) used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This will give citizens a direct voice in keeping their communities safe,” he said.
Joseph also called on Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, Crime Prevention Minister Nobert and Police Commissioner Verne Garde to release the autopsy report for Officer Tyson, a K-9 gifted to Saint Lucia by France, found dead in police care in June. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force says the matter remains under investigation.
Saint Lucia Homicide Statistics (2018–2025)
- 2018: 40 homicides
- 2019: 45 homicides
- 2020: 55 homicides
- 2021: 74 homicides
- 2022: 76 homicides
- 2023: 75 homicides
- 2024: 77 homicides
UWP’s Five Pillars to Combat Crime
- Border Security
- Establish a dedicated border control unit
- Expand the K-9 unit
- Deploy non-intrusive scanners at ports
- Crime Scene Investigations
- Create an independent CSI unit
- Ensure high-standard evidence handling
- Judicial Reform
- Introduce bench trials
- Fast-track court cases and reduce backlog
- Government Accountability
- Enforce rule of law across all ranks
- Investigate misconduct thoroughly
- Community Engagement
- Launch a civilian oversight body for crime response
- Modelled after NEMAC (COVID-era advisory group)
