Minister of Equity, Social Justice, Gender, Older Persons, Labour, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, Emma Hippolyte, has strongly condemned what she described as a “senseless act of violence” that claimed the life of 24-year-old mother Joy St Omer.
She said support services have been activated for the victim’s family.
“The ministry, through its various agencies, has reached out to the family of the deceased, providing the necessary support services to the adults and children directly affected,” she said in a statement issued on Friday, two days after St Omer was shot while sitting in a vehicle in Marigot. “Given the ministry’s broad mandate, various units are engaged in dialogue with other stakeholders in the social, health, policing and justice sectors as the details of the incident and associated interventions are coming to hand.”
Hippolyte also called on citizens to cooperate with authorities to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. They are being encouraged to report crime by calling 999 or using the anonymous 555 line. For intimate partner violence, Saint Lucians can call 202 for guidance, support and shelter.
The Gender Affairs Minister also extended condolences to St Omer’s family, friends, colleagues and coworkers.
Police said on Thursday that the suspect in the killing turned himself in and remains in custody. They confirmed that the man, St Omer’s estranged husband, had a protection order against him at the time of the fatal shooting.
Noting that traumatic incidents such as this may heighten fear and anxiety, Hippolyte urged the public to avoid behaviour that could further isolate vulnerable people.
“If you need emotional support, please call 203 or reach out to the Division of Human Services or your nearest mental health clinic for support,” she said.
Hippolyte also issued a warning to perpetrators of violence that “there is nowhere to hide”. State institutions, the minister said, are working together through inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms in crime prevention, gender-based violence response coordination and justice to crack down on violence in all its forms.
