Police on Thursday provided an update on the gun amnesty that ran for seven days during the last two weeks of January.
Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for the Central Division, Luke Defreitas, revealed that “no guns were turned in,” but the force does not view this as a failure.
“The amnesty acted as a diagnostic tool for our community. The fact that the bins remain empty tells us something vital. It tells us that the deliberate choice of the criminal elements to remain illegally armed far outweighs the fear of prosecution, and that the illegal market is tighter than we estimated,” the Assistant Commissioner said.
He went on to describe the amnesty as a “final clear crossroad” to legality, which persons chose not to take, and said the force will now adopt a zero-tolerance approach regarding illegal firearms and ammunition.
“Those who chose to keep the illegal firearms did so with full knowledge of the path they were taking. You have made your choice. Now the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force will make ours,” Defreitas warned.
So far this year, the RSLPF has seized 16 illegal weapons, 10 after the amnesty. There have been 18 homicides, 60 per cent involving guns, with nine solved.
“To those still holding illegal weapons, put them down now or prepare to face the full unyielding force of the state. We will no longer ask, we will act.”
Any third-party or user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries published on the St. Lucia Times website (https://stluciatimes.com) in no way convey the thoughts, sentiments or intents of St. Lucia Times, the author of any said article or post, the website, or the business. St. Lucia Times is not responsible or liable for, and does not endorse, any comments or replies posted by users and third parties, and especially the content therein and whether it is accurate.
St. Lucia Times reserves the right to remove, screen, edit, or reinstate content posted by third parties on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times (this includes the said user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries) at our sole discretion for any reason or no reason, and without notice to you, or any user. For example, we may remove a comment or reply if we believe it violates any part of the St. Lucia Criminal Code, particularly section 313 which pertains to the offence of Libel. Except as required by law, we have no obligation to retain or provide you with copies of any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times. All third-parties and users agree that this is a public forum, and we do not guarantee any confidentiality with respect to any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website. Any posts made and information disclosed by you is at your own risk.
The authorities are too lenient with the thugs/gang bangers/Malvetaayes in St. Lucia. What needs to happen — set the bail(s) in excess of 1 million dollars for these good for nothing offenders whose heart is set on destruction and use the funds to fix the potholes as well as other areas which are in dire need of repair.
We all have choices and poverty is no excuse for crime – please do research on some of the poorest places in the world where there is minimal crime because the laws are extremely strict.
Some of these fools in St. Lucia both men and women have kids with Tom. DIck and Harry, Jane, Shananaa and Mary which by the way they certainly cannot afford – for most of them were allergic to school/ignorant. In the meantime they want to live like the Jones’ and envy everyone else who have decided to earn an honest living by working and living right. In addition, for some strange idiotic reason feel they should reap where they did not sow – by committing crimes against others…its a crying shame. Please remember KARMA knows everyone’s address for surely we reap what we sow.
@Anonymous I totally agree with you they need they make some serious examples of these low life thugs and I hope someone in this administration will see your comment
The system is failing our country on one end– and simultaneously trying to fix itself on the other end! AKA, police doing their job (for the most part) but being shafted by the legal arm ( sentencing)!!! I am of the opinion that these violent criminals are being advised by some top lawyers- who should be in jail too!
@Anonymous..the bail money does not belong to the state unless the criminal forfeit bail conditions…
There is a bigger picture that the state and police is not considering and addressing,not everyone that owns an illegal firearm should be branded as a criminal,some ppl are continuously annihilated and robbed by would be and wannabe thugs and the police could not protect or even make an arrest even substantial evidence was related to them,…
Right now I think 50% of persons who have illegal firearm is to safeguard and protect their own 3points,the authorities are really playing a blind eye to the real issue,think of the real meaning of the term “I’d rather be judge by 12 than to be carried by 6″….look what’s going on presently,the thugs and real criminals are coming to kill,how else would one protect his life when the authorities cannot protect it for you???..and don’t give me that Bs about legal channel of possessing firearm when they only issue it to a selective few..the average common decent abiding ghetto man will never be given a license to legal firearm….the scenario that took place with the barber bwoy this week is perfect example,it took him an illegal firearm to save his points.
READ THAT ALL OVER AGAIN!
@Nooks you are correct
The bottom line is the greed = $$$$$$$$$$ – rest assured – Karma knows the addresses of all concerned and involved including the bandits, lawyers, stuweeezeee, family members, husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend etc. etc. – the upholder is worst than the thief and the blood will be on your hands respectively and equally. As they use to say in St. Lucia when I was growing up “paar nee stuweeeezee paar nee volaire” – each one will reap as he or she has sowed and that is a fact.
@Anonymous March 26, 2026 At 1:18 pm, before giving advise on “..doing research…” please do so thy self.
Thats not how the bail system works!
In addition, analysing your comment discloses a slight element of ignorance, the same ignorance you mentioned, the irony.
That said, I do feel you mean well deep down.