The 9th Franco-Saint Lucia Joint Security Commission meeting opened on September 30 with a ceremony at the Financial Administrative Centre in Castries, bringing together senior officials from Saint Lucia and France’s overseas territories for two days of discussions on border control and security cooperation.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, Martinique Prefect Etienne Desplanques, Attorney General of the Court of Appeal of Martinique Patrice Camberou and Saint Lucia’s Attorney General Leslie Mondesir were among the delegates in attendance. Other security and ministry officials from both countries were also present.
The commission runs from September 30 to October 1, with its agenda divided across two days.
Talks on day one focused on security and trafficking, as well as operational cooperation including technical equipment, and mutual support initiatives. Discussions involved the review of radar surveillance systems, border protection measures, and challenges in deportation and immigration procedures. Authorities were also slated to speak on improving coordination between Saint Lucia and French border forces, particularly in preventing “undesirable Saint Lucians” re-entry to Martinique and facilitating the handover of deportees wanted by Saint Lucian police.
Day two will turn to judicial cooperation, led by French officials, covering letters rogatory — where formal judicial assistance requests are sent from a court in one country to a court in another country — and the handling of stolen goods and criminal assets. The session will also see the creation of a joint technical committee on security matters.
During the opening ceremony, Mondesir said this week’s convention is built on the 8th session of the commission, which was held in Martinique in December 2022.
“At that meeting a strategic action plan was developed, including training, joint operational actions, provision of technical equipment, judicial cooperation, immigration and the formation of a restricted monitoring committee. This meeting here today further expands that prior discussion,” he said.
Prime Minister Pierre acknowledged progress since the last meeting but noted persistent obstacles. “Since our last meeting, Franco-Saint Lucia cooperation has advanced in several areas of practical cooperation, training and border control. However, challenges remain in communications, deportations and disaster response,” he said.
Pierre also referred to the death of K-9 Tyson, a police dog that had been instrumental in anti-narcotics missions.
“The demise of Tyson has weakened Saint Lucia’s interdiction capacity despite the fact that another K-9, Voyou, donated earlier this year, is providing some valuable support,” Pierre said. “We are heartened by the possibility of our French friends donating another K-9 or two to us and we await its arrival while the police continue to investigate fully the cause of Tyson’s death.”
The prime minister appealed for stronger resolve against organised criminal networks. “Let us strengthen our resolve to use all legal methods to rid our countries of the criminal elements that threaten our security and peace.”
