“Very challenging.”
That’s how Police Commissioner Verne Garde described his first year at the helm of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), following his appointment in September 2024. Despite the demands of the job, Garde reaffirmed his commitment to tackling crime on all fronts saying, “I’m committed to dealing with every single law enforcement matter in Saint Lucia.”
That commitment, it seems, has yielded measurable results.
Crime drops by 16%
During the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force’s (RSLPF) monthly press briefing held on September 25, Superintendent Troy Lamontagne revealed that serious crimes had dropped significantly across the country.
“In 2025, a total of 10 587 cases were recorded compared to 12 552 in the same period in 2024. This represents a 16 per cent reduction, or 1 965 fewer cases.”
According to the crime analysis report, the Central Division accounted for 42 per cent of all criminal incidents, followed by the Southern Division at 35 per cent, and the Northern Division with 23 per cent.
Major crime trends
Seven of the eight priority crimes showed declines between January 1 and September 24, 2025:
- Burglaries: ↓ 40%
- Robberies: ↓ 29%
- Narcotics Offences: ↓ 14%
- Motor Vehicle Thefts: ↓ 36%
- Stealing from the Person: ↓ 1%
- Sexual Offences: ↓ 26%
- Murders: ↓ from 58 to 57
The only uptick was seen in firearm offences, which rose by four per cent — from 241 to 250 cases.
Attempted murders more than doubled
Though the overall decrease in the crime rate is welcomed, attempted murders more than doubled this year, jumping from 20 in 2024 to 41 in 2025. That trend prompted concern among the top brass.
“Every attempt to unlawfully kill is a potential murder case, and this is cause for concern,” said Lamontagne.
When questioned on the staggering figure by St. Lucia Times, Assistant Commissioner of Police Luke Defreitas offered two explanations. The first, the RSLPF now classifies any harm or threat to life as “attempted murder”; and the second, certain violent incidents involve multiple victims suffering grievous harm.
Homicide clearance rates and challenges
As of September 2025, Saint Lucia had recorded 59 homicides — 57 murders, one police-involved fatality, and one unclassified case. On par with last year’s 60 per cent, the clearance rate remains low.
Only 18 of the 57 murder cases have been solved so far this year. However, Defreitas noted that nine previous cases have been solved in 2025, bringing the total to 27 murders cleared this year.
When asked about the possible link between unsolved killings and “retaliatory” violence, Defreitas was careful with his response: “Some of the suspects in some of the homicides are now deceased. I will not venture into how they met their demise… . And it is for RSLPF and other stakeholders to have discussion on how we approach these matters in terms of closure.”
Record firearm and ammunition seizures
Firearms remain the weapon of choice for criminals. In Saint Lucia’s homicides, guns were involved in 48 of the 57 murders.
Of that 57, gang-related activity was flagged in nearly half of the cases. Twenty-seven were classified as gang-related, with 12 classified as reprisals and four as domestic-related, with 11 still under investigation. Despite the rise in gun-related crimes, police are making significant headway in firearm seizures. According to Lamontagne, under Garde’s leadership, the RSLPF made its largest ever haul of illegal firearms and ammunition:
“To date, 94 illegal firearms and over 4 856 rounds of assorted ammunition have been seized — the highest number in any period in the history of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.”
The breakdown of recovered firearms showed 66 pistols, nine rifles, five shotguns, five revolvers, three imitation firearms and one submachine gun.
Accessories seized included 74 standard magazines and 14 extended magazines.
Still, this historic achievement underscores the troubling reality: an alarming proliferation of illegal guns and ammunition on the island.
A measured path forward
While reductions in serious crime, record-breaking seizures, and expanded investigative classifications indicate real movement, Saint Lucia’s law enforcement landscape remains delicate.
Commissioner Garde acknowledged both the challenges and the strides made, reaffirming that his approach is deliberate and strategic
“When I was appointed, I came out with a plan, and so far I’m sticking to the plan.”
Note: Data period January 1 – September 24, 2025
