Petition to reinstate death penalty surpasses 7,500 signatures

A petition to reinstate the death penalty in Saint Lucia had accumulated 7 622 signatures at the time of writing, and organisers say they are set to draft a formal letter to members of parliament.

Organised via the Change.org website, the ‘Petition to Reinstate and Active-enforce Capital Punishment for Capital Murder and Heinous Offences in Saint Lucia’ was created on Thursday, a day after the murder of 24-year-old Joy St Omer.

“Family, we have officially crossed 7 500 supporters!” organisers wrote. “Thank you to everyone who signed and shared. We are moving to the next phase. I am currently compiling our final signature list and drafting the formal letters to be delivered to Members of Parliament so we can get this issue officially brought to the floor of the House of Assembly.”

Organisers are pushing for even more signees. “Let’s hit 10 000 signatures next to show our leaders exactly how serious the community is about citizen security and justice!” reads the page.

The call for revising judicial legislation comes amidst widespread outrage across Saint Lucia after the budding entrepreneur, student and mother of one died after being shot multiple times.

According to police, a man identified as St Omer’s estranged husband has turned himself in and is in custody, with police noting that prior to her murder, an active protection order had been in place against the man and an active matter before the court concerning alleged breaches of that protection order.

St Omer had a history of contacting the police over the matter, including on the day the incident took place. 

The suspect had also been arrested and charged with the offences of harm, threatening words, and violation of a protection order on March 13, 2026, after a report of assault involving the suspect was made to the Anse La Raye Police Station. After bail was denied when the matter was brought before the First District Court, “The suspect later applied for bail at the High Court and was granted bail,” read a statement from police.

While the initial call for reinstating the death penalty has garnered momentum, some are also expressing varying opinions. “Yes, the death penalty is punishment for such crime, but that doesn’t solve the issue. We have to focus on … preventative action, which is better response from the police and the judiciary system. If the system fail[s] our citizens, there should be serious repercussions,” one Facebook user wrote, while others called for earlier family and community intervention in troubled social situations.

Police investigations are ongoing.