As murders mount across Saint Lucia, the Ministry of Health is treating workplace safety as a public health priority. In partnership with the police force, officials have launched situational awareness workshops to prepare nurses and frontline staff to spot threats and defuse aggression before it erupts in the workplace.
The initiative officially began on Wednesday, March 10, 2026, at the Gros Islet Human Resource Centre, where nurses and other healthcare workers gathered for the first session.
Facilitating the workshop was Inspector of Police Shervon Mattieu, who explained that the training was designed to address specific vulnerabilities faced by healthcare workers, particularly those operating at polyclinics around the island.
The workshops focus on equipping nurses with the skills needed to remain alert and aware of potential threats within their working environments. Mattieu said the programme seeks to educate participants on “what to look for, especially when they are at work – suspicious behaviour, being aware of their surroundings, signs, behaviour patterns of persons coming in and out of the polyclinics”.
He further highlighted the growing challenges faced by frontline healthcare workers, noting that medical facilities can sometimes become the first point of contact for individuals involved in violent incidents.
“Right now we live in an age where crime and violence have increased, and a lot of persons who get shot or stabbed normally go to those medical facilities for help,” Mattieu explained.
He added that in such circumstances, healthcare workers may encounter patients or accompanying individuals who display hostile behaviour, making it essential for staff to understand how to safely manage those situations. The training, he said, provides guidance on “how to attempt to deal with aggressive persons who come into the polyclinics”.
The workshops are designed to combine theoretical instruction with practical exercises. “We deal with topics like dealing with aggressive persons, signs, types of suspicious activity, being aware of your surroundings, cues as it relates to persons’ behaviour, what to look for,” Mattieu said.
Participants welcomed the initiative, noting that the training comes at a time when concerns about safety within healthcare settings are becoming increasingly prominent.
Among those attending the session was Sirmina Charles, a nurse who described the workshop as both relevant and necessary, given the current social climate.
“Safety has been a thing that has become of great concern for us because times have changed, we have a lot of crime happening,” Charles said.
She explained that healthcare workers often find themselves assisting individuals who may have been involved in violent incidents, which can sometimes create uncomfortable or uncertain situations for staff.
“We have persons coming to us for assistance because of those crimes, and as with anything, as a female, you sometimes feel a bit uneasy attending to somebody who was involved in a crime,” she noted.
However, Charles said the training provided valuable insight and reassurance, giving participants the opportunity to reflect on how best to manage such encounters in the future.
You need to adequately staff all your medical facilities with the following:
-security personnel – trained in de escalation etc. [undiagnosed mental illness is prevalent in St. Lucia]
-trained social workers
-clinicians (physicians, nurses, pcas & techs)
We are in 2026 you all focus on jazz, carnival and ensure that all resources are adequately in place to the tune of millions – nothing wrong with this. However, your healthcare services is of paramount importance and should be given first priority. I often wonder about the prioritization of relevant initiatives in St. Lucia. In any event, I honestly wish you all well.