(SNO) — At least nine people, including nationals of Saint Lucia and Martinique, have been arrested in connection with the dismantling of a large firearms and drug trafficking ring — arguably the biggest weapons seizure in Martinique, according to media reports.

Police said after 10 months of investigation, a large trafficking of arms and drugs from Venezuela was dismantled by the Central Office for the Suppression of Illegal Traffic in Narcotics (OCRTIS) after a final operation last week in St. Joseph. ”

According to Martinique 1ere, 11,000 euros in cash, 130 kilos of cocaine and seized vehicles, the investigators have seized an “impressive” amount of firearms: military-style assault rifles, more than 17 automatic pistols, revolvers, 35 kilos of ammunition — weapons presumably for resale.

“This operation allowed for a seizure that is quite exceptional in the judicial history of Martinique,” said Jean Damien Moustier, head of the Caribbean branch of OCRTIS.

The reports state that OCRTIS conducted the investigation with “colleagues in Saint Lucia and Venezuela for 10 months to identify the mechanisms of a team of traffickers who were responsible for importing and managing the weapons”.

“The weapons that were stored serve as currency for narcotics (including cannabis resin),” Moustier said.

(0)(0)

The post St. Lucians among 9 people arrested in major arms and drug trafficking ring in Martinique appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

The officers commenced a one-week training session in human rights and social justice. * Photo: Allen Chastanet FB page

(SNO) — Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has expressed his “continued support” for law enforcement officers in Saint Lucia, as he acknowledged on social media that police officers, firefighters, ports police officers, correctional officers and representatives of the City Police, have commenced a one-week training session in human rights and social justice.

“I wish to express my government’s continued support for all law enforcement officers in Saint Lucia who continue, on a daily basis, to serve our country,” Chastanet said in a post on his official Facebook page on Thursday.

The prime minister said the session is being facilitated by Howard University lecturer and human rights expert, Dr. Edwin Powell.

“The initiative is supported by the Police Commissioner, the Minister of National Security, and the Mayor of Castries,” Chastanet stated.

“Acting Prime Minister Guy Joseph will be present at the closing ceremony on Friday 15th February 2019 which takes place at the National Apprenticeship Program conference room in Vieux Fort at 2 PM,” he added.

(2)(2)

The post PM Chastanet reiterates support for law enforcement officers appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(SNO) — Public urination appears to be a major problem in Saint Lucia with the government earning up to $1,000 weekly in fines from people charged with the offense.

This is according to Mayor of Castries, Peterson Francis, while speaking last Friday at the opening ceremony of a new comfort station in Castries, a joint venture between businessman Maher Chreiki and the Castries Constituency Council.

He said the law against relieving oneself in public has always been there but now the government is raking in the dollars in fines for it.

“Nearly every week now the government is making $1,000, at least minimum, who have been caught urinating and have to go to court to pay..” he stated.

However, despite this, he said people continue to urinate in the open.

“But you know in Saint Lucia, even when you are doing something that is good, first thing they asking, yes, you are arresting people, where are the washrooms?” he stated. “But I can assure you that you have people coming next to the washroom and using the walls. They will not go into the washroom and the will still ask you where is the washroom.”

Francis said there cannot be an excuse from such behavior in the public domain and has issued an appeal for the public to use the comfort station to empty their bladders.

“We have minibus drivers, they have passengers on board,” he said. “They have tourists on board, they will stop anywhere and go at the back of the vehicle and urinate.”

He said such culture needs to be changed and threatened to be hard on those who break the law.

“And I have promised Saint Lucians one thing, as long as Peterson Francis is mayor, he will do and uphold what is correct,” he said.

The new comfort station is located on the William Peter Boulevard in Castries.

(7)(1)

The post Saint Lucia gov’t earns $1,000 weekly in fines for public urination — Mayor Francis appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Wassouf

(SNO) — Two people are in custody in connection with the shooting death of 49-year-old Syrian national and Rodney Heights resident Souheil Wassouf, HTS is reporting.

The two were taken as persons of interest, days after the brutal execution-style slaying of the businessman in Jacmel/Anse la Raye on February 11, 2019.

No further details were given and no charges have yet been laid against the two.

HTS said a post-mortem was done on February 14 but the details have not yet been released.

After the shooting, sources told SNO that Wassouf, who was known to drive around the island and sells items from his vehicle, was attacked while in or around his vehicle. His silver Toyota Voxy minivan (a twin of the Toyota Noah) has at least four bullet holes, two in the windscreen and one on the bonnet.

He was found motionless at the back of his vehicle with the driver’s door open and the front-seat passenger window partially shattered, apparently by gunfire. It appears he tried to escape but was cut down at the back of the minivan.

Reports are that the fatal wound may have been a shot to the head, in the forehead region.

Wassouf, who once operated a store in Castries, is survived by a wife and two children.

(7)(3)

The post UPDATED: Two in custody in execution-style killing of Syrian national appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(SNO) — As part of its 15th anniversary observance, Ultra Mart Store is offering all police officers a bottle of water and a fruit.

The lawmen can take advantage of this special providing they present their “police ID” to any Ultra Mart Store, according to a social media post by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

“Starting today February 19, 2019 all members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force who present their police ID to any Ultra Mart Store will be given a small bottle of water and a fruit. This is in observance of 15 years in operation by Ultra Mart Inc.,” the post, that was published on Twitter and Facebook, reads.

There has been no indication of how long this special offer will last. Is it forever? But it definitely ‘sounds’ free of cost. There was no stated cost or discount.

Responses from members of the public have been mostly positive, with some throwing in a little humour.

Michael Flood, wrote on Facebook, said: “Great gesture by Ultra Mart. You all are very much deserving of this.”

Scott Zeal Papo added: “Wonderful initiative.”

A police officer joked: “I want star burst too lool.”

Joseph Mahy sounded a bit more serious: “A bottle of water.how cheap.give them a bottle of Wine.or a bottle of Rum.”

(5)(3)

The post Free fruit and water for St. Lucia police officers appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(SNO) — Authorities have not discovered any bomb and operations have resumed — about three hours after a threat was received at at the George F. L. Charles Airport in Vigie, according to sources.

When the information was received at around 6 a.m., the airport was evacuated and the area cordoned off while officials conducted their investigations.

In a video obtained by St. Lucia News Online, persons are seen waiting on the beach. The video was shot moments after the evacuation.

Below is a gradual update on the situation.

Update at 8:42 a.m.: It appears the threat was a hoax and investigators and airport officials are preparing to resume normal operations at the airport. “Already getting to that point,” a source said.

At 8:50 a.m.: We received news from an employee that some staff are being allowed to re-enter the airport. It is expected that customers will eventually be allowed.

At 9 a.m.: We received news from an employee that the airport is “open now to the public”. Passengers have been checking in, the employee added.

(0)(0)

The post Video: Normal operations resume at George Charles Airport after bomb threat appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Chicot

(SNO) — The Police Welfare Association (PWA) has put on hold a planned Independence boycott and will meet with the government to discuss outstanding wage negotiations.

The negotiations are expected to come to an end in March and members of the PWA had reportedly planned to exclude themselves from this year’s Independence celebration if an agreement was not reached with the Government Negotiating Team (GNT).

But PWA President, Travis Chicot, told HTS that the association will “not rush the process” while it believes that it needs to get down to the bottom of the negotiating process.

He said he is willing to take the blame to push a meeting with the government to February 25.

“I may take flak on it,” Chicot told HTS. “Persons have called it political, persons have called it being in the pockets of the commissioner. It is what it is.”

He made it clear that he was not influenced by any individual in making the decision.

“However, I have said if there are implications for such action, I am prepared,” he said.

He appealed to PWA members to remain focused.

“There are benefits, as I’ve written to the GNT, that is very important to a police officer,” he stated. “Accepting monies or taking a quick fix or rushing is not the way forward. Let us sit at the tables because we’ve always been in good faith. I call on the members to be patient, to understand what we are going for and I guarantee you, I guarantee you, that if we are driving the point home for our benefits we will enjoy those benefits.”

(1)(0)

The post Independence boycott by St. Lucia police deterred: “I call on the members to be patient” appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

George Nicholas said the police have hired a wrecker for the Independence celebrations

(SNO) — The police are warning motorists that they will take tough action against them if they break traffic rules in the capital during the island’s Independence celebrations on Friday.

George Nicholas, superintendent of police in charge of operations, warned that the police have utilized the services of a wrecker that will be used “without hesitation when necessary”.

“And I want to hasten to say that it will be at the owners’ expense,” he said at a press briefing. “So I want persons to participate in the celebrations and to enjoy the activities.”

Brazil Street, Chausee Road and La Toc Road will be the main streets for vehicular traffic entering and leaving Castries.

A number of bus stops will be relocated.

“Dennery, that’s Dennery South Route 2C, the buses will be relocated to Micoud Street,” Nicholas said. “That is just in front of M&C and they will be facing north, so they will be facing Jeremie Street.”

He explained that the bus stop for Route 2B or Dennery North will remain as is.

“And those two bus stops, the buses would exit through the Inner Relief Road,” he stated.

A number of bus stops have been relocated to the the Inner Relief Road.

“The Jacmel/Millet bus stop will be relocated to the Inner Relief Road. Ciceron/The Morne Bus Stop will be relocated to the Inner Relief Road, La Croix will be relocated to the Inner Relief Road. Bexon Bus Stop will be relocated to the Inner Relief Road,” Nicholas said.

(0)(0)

The post Wrecker will be used “without hesitation” this Independence, St. Lucia police warns appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Wassouf in happy times.

(SNO) — Saint Lucia police have released without charge, the two individuals who were in police custody in connection with the shooting death of 49-year-old Syrian national and Rodney Heights resident, Souheil Wassouf, according to law enforcement sources.

However, one of the individuals has been charged for the possession of drugs which were found during a search of the individual’s home, sources say. The type of drugs and the quantity were not immediately available.

HTS had first reported that the two were taken into custody as persons of interest, days after the slaying of the businessman in Jacmel/Anse la Raye on February 11, 2019.

Sources say being released from custody without charge does not mean the individual/s are no longer suspects or persons of interest.

A post-mortem conducted last week revealed Wassouf’s cause of death as “haemoperitoneum secondary to injury to spleen, aorta and inferior vena cava” due to gunshot injuries, sources also revealed.

Sources had told SNO shortly after the shooting that Wassouf, who was known to drive around the island and sells items from his vehicle, was attacked while in or around his vehicle. His silver Toyota Voxy minivan (a twin of the Toyota Noah) has at least four bullet holes, two in the windscreen and one on the bonnet.

He was found motionless at the back of his vehicle with the driver’s door open and the front-seat passenger window partially shattered, apparently by gunfire.

Wassouf, who is survived by his wife and two children, reportedly moved to St. Lucia from Syria about 19 years ago, and opened a store in Castries.

(1)(2)

The post Two released from custody for Syrian’s homicide, post-mortem result revealed appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Lambert Remy of SLASPA (inset photo) said the organisation is pleased with the response of law enforcement and emergency personnel.

(SNO) — The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) has said it is pleased with the response of emergency personnel to a bomb threat at George F. L. Charles Airport on Wednesday morning.

SLASPA, in a press release, confirmed that the threat occurred, at about 5:50 a.m., adding that the matter has been turned over to the Criminal Investigations Department.

Director of Airports at SLASPA, Lambert Remy, said the organization is satisfied with the response to the threat.

“We are satisfied with the level of responsiveness from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Fire Service and all emergency personnel,” he stated.

SLASPA said in keeping with the Airport’s emergency plan and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety requirements, the airports division of SLASPA evacuated the facility.

Operations were suspended to ensure safety of the travelling public, aviation staff and other facility users, SLASPA said.

Following thorough investigations, an all-clear was given, and operations at the airport resumed by 9 a.m.

(1)(0)

The post SLASPA pleased with response to bomb threat at George F. L. Charles Airport appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Mayor of Castries (centre) with police officers and Prime Minister Allen Chastanet

(SNO) — With Saint Lucia facing a crime wave in recent times, Mayor of Castries Peterson Francis is of the opinion that all Saint Lucians must play a role in combating it.

He stated that the situation is something that he himself will not tolerate.

“I will not tolerate crime whether it is at my doorstep, whether it is further away from my doorstep, I simply will not,” he stated earlier this week. “And I will do everything within the law and my power to make sure that crime situation is averted in Saint Lucia.”

Peterson said the island’s crime situation is not one that just a few people must be concerned about.

City Police officers on patrol in Castries

“The issue is not for a few people,” he pointed out. “The issue is for Saint Lucia, Saint Lucians.”

He noted that the police cannot stop all crimes all the time.

“The City Police cannot stop it, the government cannot stop it, the minister of national security cannot stop that, priests, whether it’s religion, we cannot,” Francis said. “At least if all of us play our part, it will not be as rampant as it is right now.”

Peterson Francis

(3)(5)

The post Castries mayor says all Saint Lucians must play role in crime fight appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(SNO) — The police in Saint Lucia are urging those who have fallen victim to revenge porn to come forward so that they can go after the perpetrators.

With the advent of smart phones and social media, the problem has grown significantly, not only in Saint Lucia, but worldwide.

Revenge porn is described as “revealing or sexually explicit images or videos of a person posted on the Internet, typically by a former sexual partner, without the consent of the subject and in order to cause them distress or embarrassment”.

While he could not put a figure of such incidents reported on the island, Sergeant Shervon Matthieu told Choice Media Network that it is an offence to circulate nude photos or videos of someone without consent.

“Section 313 of the Criminal Code, is libel, where it speaks of publishing any defamatory character of a person meaning like any video, any naked photo of that person without their consent,” he explained. “That person could be charged under libel which is Section 313 of our Criminal Code.”

But the code goes further. Those who circulate such photos and images are equally liable to be prosecuted as the ones who originally did the posting could face harsher punishments.

“It’s a criminal offence,” Matthieu told Choice. “Now in criminal offences, we have what you call aiding and abetting. There are accessories before and accessories after the fact. So let’s say for instance, I sent it to you and you send it out to another person, you are still liable to be arrested and charged for the offence, just like the first person who sent it out.”

Matthieu warns that people should restrain from taking photos that could probably land them in hot water.

“Remember, when you take those photos, it’s there, it’s on the internet,” he stated. “So think about what if your phone gets lost or if your laptop gets stolen, what if your Ipad gets stolen and you have those photos on there, what would happen.”

He encouraged anyone who have been victims of revenge porn to make a report at the nearest police station.

(0)(0)

The post Saint Lucia police want to go after perpetrators of revenge porn appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(SNO) — Members of the local media and law enforcement fraternities, and the wider Saint Lucia community, are mourning the death of police officer, Tamara Charles-Laure.

Tamara, who was left paralyzed by a motor vehicle accident in 2010, reportedly passed away in hospital Thursday morning, Feb. 21, according to law enforcement sources.

She was well known for her works as a press officer in the Press and Public Relations Office of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

Tributes have been pouring in on social media for Tamara, especially from her colleagues. One of them, former press officer, Zachary Hippolyte, wrote: “You started me on my journey to be a press officer, will never forget your advice and instructions. Our convos, your constant indulgence “Zack always order online, you save money that way” you loved life and never accepted your disability. Trail blazer, leader, friend. Rip.”

Tamara sustained serious injuries in 2010, and was left paralyzed, when her motor vehicle careened plunged down a precipice at Barre de l’isle.  The former Police Vibes host returned to work in 2013.

Prior to the accident, she performed in police calypso under the stage name ‘Brown Sugar’.

In a 2013 interview with HTS television (see video below), Tamara heaped praise on her husband, Camron Laure – former president of the Police Welfare Association — for sticking with her through thick and thin.

Cameron and Tamara

She said at the time, that if it was not for her husband and the “Almighty God”, she would have been lost.

“… Because my husband has to do basically everything for me, and he does it without complaining, without saying he is tired, even when I know he is tired he does it. I mean he is my nurse, my therapist, my psychologist, because you do get your moments when you break down,” she said in the 2013 HTS interview.

The management of St. Lucia News Online expresses deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Tamara Charles-Laure.

(45)(1)

The post Saint Lucia mourns police officer Tamara Charles-Laure appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Michael Pooran in this 2014 wedding day photo (Facebook)

(SNO) — A Guyanese national is dead following a stabbing incident in Bagatelle, Castries on Sunday afternoon, and one person is in custody assisting with investigations.

The victim has been identified as 26-year-old Michael Pooran, originally from Guyana but living in Bagatelle.

According to a press release, police officers attached to the Marchand Police Station responded to the incident at 5 a.m.

Pooran reportedly sustained several stab wounds during an alleged altercation.

He was transported by ambulance to Victoria Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

(2)(9)

The post One in custody for Bagatelle homicide appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(SNO) — Police are investigating the discovery of a human fetus in Soufriere.

The fetus was reportedly found in the Palmiste community on Monday morning.

Reports are that it was in the early stages of development, however this has not been confirmed.

There are no reports of arrests in the matter at this time.

More info will be published when it becomes available.

(0)(8)

The post Police investigate discovery of human fetus in Soufriere appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(SNO) — A young male has been shot in Assou Canal, Grand Riviere in Gros Islet, according to sources.

The shooting is reported to have occurred at a shop around 8 p.m. tonight (February 25).

Photos of the victim and what appears to be a spent shell have been circulating on social media.

More details soon

(19)(46)

The post BREAKING NEWS: Shooting in Grand Riviere, Gros Islet appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Miguel Alphonse

(SNO) — Police are investigating the shooting death of a young male in Assou Canal, Grand Riviere, Gros Islet on Monday evening.

The deceased has been identified as Miguel Alphonse, 22, of Assou Canal.

The incident occurred around 8 p.m. Monday, February 25 at a shop in the community.

No further details were available.

(19)(8)

The post UPDATED: Latest homicide victim identified appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Officer Camron Laure (left) and his late wife, former press officer Tamara Charles-Laure

(SNO) — The Police Welfare Association (PWA) has taken on the responsibility of burying late police officer Tamara Charles-Laure who passed away last week.

She was left paralyzed following a motor vehicle accident in 2010.

PWA President Travis Chicot said the association’s Distress Fund will be used for the internment of Charles-Laure.

“We expect to show our presence…” he said, adding that the matter has to do with losing a member of the police force and also losing the wife of a member of the force.

“We intend to do, we intend to take advice, we intend to take whatever the members see fit that we should to reach out to the brother,” he said. “We intend to show love, we intend to show support as we go on through the days and the weeks in terms of the burial of Sister Laure.”

Meanwhile, Chicot described Charles-Laure’s passing as “heartbreaking”.

“In spite of the many things that divides us, there are quite a few things that bring us together,” he stated. “And it’s sad to say death is one of them but it is something that we come and support the brother in terms of visiting, in terms of sharing words of encouragement with him. So, it is a sad day for us as a police force to lose any member…”

He stated that he hopes the deceased police officer’s husband will find some peace of mind.

“We will provide the necessary support for him as he goes on even before and after the burial of his wife,” Chicot remarked.

(10)(0)

The post PWA to defray burial cost of late police officer appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Jury orders Wake County man to death | Raleigh News & Observer photo

(SNO) — A Saint Lucian man has been sentenced to death for the shooting death of two people, including a pregnant woman, at a motel in North Carolina, United States (US) nearly three years ago.

Seaga Edward Gillard, 30, who is from Soufriere in Saint Lucia but resided in the US, was convicted two weeks ago for the double murder.

A Wake County jury delivered the unanimous decision about two hours after it resumed deliberations on Monday morning.

According to WRAL.com, Gillard did not show any emotion when the jury’s decision was handed down.

“The death penalty sentence is the first by a Wake County jury in over a decade,” the website reported.

The victims

The Saint Lucian was convicted by the same jury of several charges including two counts of first-degree murder, attempted robbery with a firearm and attempted first-degree rape.

WRAL.com reported that April Lynn Holland, 22, and her boyfriend, Dwayne Garvey, 28, were gunned down inside an Americas Best Value Inn, a motel located on Arrow Drive off Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh.

“Security cameras at the motel near Crabtree Valley Mall captured the deaths of Holland and Garvey. During the first phase of the trial, jurors saw the grisly black-and-white footage in which Gillard opened fire on Garvey inside a motel hallway,” the website reported.

Gillard’s mugshot

Below are further information posted by WRAL.com on the case.

Prosecutors told the jury that Holland, who was three months pregnant, was working as a prostitute at the motel, while Garvey, the father of her three children, was her partner in the operation.

“They were murdered in cold blood,” Saacks said. “Now we’re deciding on the appropriate punishment. Do they matter?”

During the trial, the prosecution said Gillard was a repeat criminal who had robbed and sexually assaulted a string of women before the slayings of Holland and Garvey.

(18)(14)

The post Saint Lucian gets death penalty for murdering two people including pregnant woman appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Persons gathered outside the airport during the bomb scare

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Mar 5, CMC –The St. Lucia police on Tuesday confirmed that the main suspect in a bomb threat that disrupted operations at the George F.L. Charles Airport late last month has been hospitalised “in a critical condition” after ingesting a “substance”.

The police did not name the individual, who is alleged to have made the bomb threat on February 20, resulting in a three-hour closure of the airport on the outskirts of the capital.

The police said that the suspect was taken into custody on February 28 and “that same evening …was transported to the Victoria Hospital having ingested a substance”.

“The suspect is in a critical condition at a medical facility and has not been charged. Investigations are continuing into this matter,” the police said.

BELOW IS THE FULL PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SAINT LUCIA POLICE

Bomb Threat Update

On Wednesday February 20, 2019 about 6:00am, law enforcement officials responded to a report of a bomb threat at the George F. L. Charles Airport in Vigie.

Normal operations resumed about 9:00am when the all clear was given after a thorough search was conducted.

On Thursday February 28, 2019, one individual was taken into police custody in relation to this incident.

That same evening, the suspect was transported to the Victoria Hospital having ingested a substance.

The suspect is in a critical condition at a medical facility and has not been charged.

Investigations are continuing into this matter.

BELOW IS THE STORY/VIDEO WHEN SNO FIRST REPORTED ON THE INCIDENT

Video: Normal operations resume at George Charles Airport after bomb threat

(SNO) — Authorities have not discovered any bomb and operations have resumed — about three hours after a threat was received at at the George F. L. Charles Airport in Vigie, according to sources.

When the information was received at around 6 a.m., the airport was evacuated and the area cordoned off while officials conducted their investigations.

In a video obtained by St. Lucia News Online, persons are seen waiting on the beach. The video was shot moments after the evacuation.

Below is a gradual update on the situation.

Update at 8:42 a.m.: It appears the threat was a hoax and investigators and airport officials are preparing to resume normal operations at the airport. “Already getting to that point,” a source said.

At 8:50 a.m.: We received news from an employee that some staff are being allowed to re-enter the airport. It is expected that customers will eventually be allowed.

At 9 a.m.: We received news from an employee that the airport is “open now to the public”. Passengers have been checking in, the employee added.

(0)(0)

The post Saint Lucia police say main suspect in bomb threat case in critical condition at hospital appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.