Andrew Johnson

(PRESS RELEASE) — At about 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2019, officers attached to the Criminal Investigations Department, Micoud Police Station, received a report of a Robbery at Mon Repos, Micoud.

On arrival, officers encountered Andrew Joseph, a 76-year-old resident of Mon Repos, with an apparent gunshot injury to the abdomen.

He was conveyed to the St. Jude Hospital via ambulance, where he was admitted.

On Monday, November 11, 2019, at about 6 p.m. Joseph succumbed at the said medical facility.

A post mortem examination is scheduled for a later date.

Two individuals are currently in police custody in relation to this incident.

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Director of the Forensic Lab, Fernanda Henry

Director of the Forensic Lab, Fernanda Henry, has said it is now building confidence in the public as it relates to crime-fighting on the island.

She told the media that confidence in the lab had taken a nosedive because of many controversies surround it, including a number of closures.

“We need to step up, we need to demonstrate to our citizens that we are working,” she stated.

She said the lab is working full time to show that it is being effective, especially when it comes to criminal investigations.

“A lot of it will come out of prosecution,” she noted. “Because really that is the end goal. People, when they see the outcome of a case in court, they understand that, oh there was forensics involved here. So that’s where it would be demonstrated that forensics is important and that we are working to build the confidence of the public in what we do.”

Henry explained that the lab is up to date and on par.

“In fact, our instrumentation sometimes exceeds those that you find in US laboratories,” she remarked. “Our staff are very well trained and they are very enthusiastic as well.”

She admitted that the lab is not fully operational yet but is working towards that goal.

“I expect it to be fully operational by the end of 2020 and we intend to add new services to the laboratory as well,” Henry said.

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Mayor of Castries, Peterson Francis, does not appear happy over a recent incident during which a police officer was reportedly relieved of his firearms by bandits.

Saying that while these cases may occur, it should not be easy.

“I am not saying somebody cannot ambush you and take your firearm but it’s supposed to be difficult,” the mayor opined to HTS News4orce.

Reports are that on November 12, bandits struck at the Twist establishment in Grand Riviere, Gros Islet and made good their escape with the cash register. The gun of an unnamed police officer was taken from him during the incident.

He pointed out that it should not be easy for a law enforcer to be relieved of his or her firearm.

“There must be a level of confidence. I mean somebody cannot just walk up to you and just disarm you, where you are not even aware,” he stated.

The mayor stated that when such incidents take place, there is a loss of confidence in the police.

“It hurts me when you hear and it makes losing more confidence in the law enforcement when you going hear that a law enforcement has been disarmed and the manner in which the law enforcement has been disarmed,” Francis said.

Meanwhile, Francis called for vigilance as the island experienced a spate of crime in recent times.

“We have to be vigilant, even though wherever we are,” he stated. “We could be in a washroom, we have to be vigilant.”

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(GIS) – The Department of Justice in Saint Lucia, and staff at the Saint Lucia Forensic Science Services share the common regional goal of improving the role and relevance of forensics in criminal investigations.

Director of Saint Lucia Forensic Science Services, Fernanda Henry, explained that it is important for forensics to play a more pivotal role in identifying maltreatment and abuse of children, thus enabling a general decline by prosecuting more perpetrators, and sending a clear message of zero tolerance of child abuse and maltreatment in the society.

The protection of the youth is a major priority and remains a major concern for lawmakers and enforcers the world over.

Director of Public Prosecutions, Daarsrean Greene, noted that despite the steps taken to protect the young and vulnerable, the unfortunate reality is they still become victims of abuse.

Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, the Hon. Allen Chastanet, said there must be an effective system in place to protect young people. The prime minister noted that given the sensitivity and importance of the matter, it should be a priority for all governments throughout the region.

The symposium, held from Nov. 15 to 16, brought together stakeholders from various fields including law enforcement, the judiciary, and the medical and forensic fields.

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Vehicle thieves have struck again in Saint Lucia.

A white Ford Escape #PJ 261 was stolen on Monday evening between 9:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., according to information posted on social media.

The vehicle was taken from the parking lot behind the CDC, close to the La Croix bus stand.

“Distinguishing marks include left rear-door molding missing and silver masking tape around the sunroof,” according to the social media post.

Anyone with information please contact 518-0818/484-1556/452-4748/486-3768.

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Mayor Francis

(PRESS RELEASE) – The Mayor of Castries, His Worship Peterson D. Francis is calling on members of the public to play a greater role in apprehending perpetrators of petty crimes within the city.

The Mayor made the call after reports of an attack on a cruise ship passenger on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred at the corner of Jeremie and Coral Streets and involved a German national.

The City Police escorted the victim to the vessel and sympathized with him after the visitor said he did not want the police to get involved.

The Castries Mayor who visited the scene of the incident expressed outrage, calling for citizens to stand up against transgressions in the city.

“Citizens of this country should declare war on all criminal elements. We are empowered according to the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia to make citizen’s arrests. Let us take the fight to them. The time has come for a bold statement to be made guided by the laws of the land. Let us send this message to them”, said Mayor Francis.

“While remarkable strides and great collaborations have been achieved in policing our city, we cannot continue marketing our island as a honeymoon and vacation destination only to have a few lawbreakers with bad minds cripple our society. What about the efforts which go into redevelopment, branding and marketing the destination? If only we can be brave enough to make more citizen’s arrests, then we will see a better and peaceful society. This situation occurred in the eyes of many who did nothing to stop the culprit.”

In the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia, Chapter 3.01 of 2014, section 30 subsection one, any national can make a citizen’s arrest if they witness a crime.

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St. Lucia police during a patrol. * Photo credit: Telesurv.

(SNO) – Prime Minister Allen Chastanet is promising safety to all citizens of Saint Lucia by focusing on three areas with goal of reducing serious crimes by the end of 2020.

He said there will be a focus on better policing, great efficiency in the legal system and the rehabilition of offenders.

Earlier this week he met with senior security officials for a weekly security briefing.

According to Chastanet, there will be an increase on police patrols.

“Crime prevention and detection will benefit from a stronger police presence in ‘hotspot’ areas,” he stated. “We will be increasing foot and mobile patrols on the frontline where they are needed most.”

Chastanet said greater surveillance “is being made available to the police with the rolling out of the $1.8 million Safe City CCTV Project in Castries.”

He said his government doesn’t believe in only incarcerating offenders but also rehabilitating them.

“My Government does not believe that incarceration is the only solution to reducing crime in Saint Lucia,” the Prime Minister pointed out. “Rehabilitation will be a key component in crime reduction aimed at preventing re-offending upon discharge. Inmates at the Bordelais Correctional Facility and juveniles at the Boys Training Centre will be offered enhanced life skills, literacy and numeracy schooling, substance abuse counselling and CVQ certification programmes to give offenders the skills to re- enter society with better options for employment, thereby reducing the lure of criminal activity.”

He also noted that since assuming power, his administration has made a number of interventions to improve justice and security in Saint Lucia.

According to him, these include:

-Appointment of a Director of Public Prosecution
-Reopening of the Forensic Laboratory
-Installation of High Definition CCTV cameras in the city
-Repairs to Police Stations across the island
-Recruitment of over 150 new police officers
-Provision of new Police vehicles
-Provision of new Police motorcycles
-Repaired the broken Radar system in Vieux Fort
-Rehabilitation of courthouses
-Repairs to our Marine Patrol boats
-Signing of Security MOU’s with key allies

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Blaze has been missing since Sunday

(SNO) – Relatives and friends of a man from Vieux Fort, who they say has been missing since the weekend, is appealing for assistance in locating him.

Reports are that Michael Blaze, also known as Coco or Rock, was released from the Choiseul Police Station on Sunday evening and has not been seen since.

He was originally arrested in Vieux Fort last Friday for reasons unknown but was taken to the Choiseul Police Station because of mold at the police station in the second town, SNO was informed.

A close friend of the 21-year-old told SNO that Blaze, who is mentally challenged, has attended special education school.

The friend said officers at the Choiseul Police Station showed a video of Blaze actually leaving the establishment.

He questioned why the police would arrest someone and take him to an area that is unfamiliar.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Blaze should call 715-3076 or 716-4603.

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(PRESS RELEASE) – About 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, Officers attached to the Criminal Investigations Department, Castries, received a report of a shooting at Odsan, Castries. Officers were informed that an unknown male entered a business place and proceeded to discharge rounds of ammunition in the direction of patrons.

On arrival, officers encountered Yanney Severin, a nineteen (19) year old resident of Odsan, with apparent gunshot injuries about his body, receiving medical attention by emergency personnel. He was conveyed to the Victoria Hospital via ambulance, where he was pronounced dead. A post mortem examination is scheduled for a later date.

Two other males sustained injuries during the said incident. Both males are reported to be in stable condition.

Anyone with information regarding this matter is asked to contact the Crime Hotline at 45-CRIME (452-7463) or the Major Crimes Unit at 4563754.

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George was shot in the head

A man from Bruceville, Vieux Fort was shot dead early Saturday morning.

Reports are the he was killed at a dancehall by an unknown assailant.

The man has been identified as Lyndon George.

He was shot in the head, SNO understands.

He was pronounced dead at hospital.

This is the 44th homicide in Saint Lucia in 2019.

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A screenshot from the video

A woman who was recorded severely beating a teenager for wearing her shoes has been charged.

She was charged on Friday, according to HTS News4orce and has been identified as Tessa Albert.

She has been identified as the aunt of the teenager.

Footage from the TV station showed Albert in handcuffs and being escorted by police.

The matter will be heard on Monday since a magistrate could not be found to preside over the matter on Friday.

The video of the woman beating the teenager because she wore her shoes to class went viral on social media.

It generated a torrent of sympathy for the young lady and donations of shoes came pouring in.

Many Saint Lucians have since taken to social media promising to assist even more and saying the response to the entire situation captured the true spirit of the people of the island.

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Charles (right) faced a charge of harm

(SNO) – A woman who was filmed violently beating her niece for wearing her shoes has pleaded guilty and has been placed on $1,000 bail.

Tessa Albert, Jacmel, was faced a charge of harm expected to return to court on January 14, 2020 to be sentenced.

She was charged last Friday and spent the weekend in a police lock up while she awaited for the matter to be heard in court.

Bail conditions include no contact with her niece, the surrendering of travel documents, court permission for leaving Saint Lucia, and that she should report to the Anse La Ray Police Station every Friday before 6:00 pm.

The video of Charles beating the young lady went viral on social media and touched the hearts of many.

She received an outpouring of sympathy and donations of shoes came flooding in.

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Nicholas said the incident took place on Saturday

(SNO) – Lawmen are presently investigating the death of a prisoner who was found hanging in bathroom at the Laborie Police Station on Saturday.

The dead man has been identified as Shem Sinaise of Laborie.

At a press briefing, Superintendent of Police, George Nicholas, said Sinaise was charged by the Vieux Fort Police with stealing and causing harm.

“He was kept at Laborie Police Station,” he explained. “Some time in the afternoon (on Saturday) he asked to use the bathroom and he was given time to use the bathroom.”

He stated that a few minutes later an officer when to check on Sinaise and found him hanging from a window in the bathroom.

Nicholas stated that the dead man was transported to the Laborie Police Station because the one in Vieux Fort was relocated because of “some issues” there.

“The new location has no cell accommodation,” he stated, adding that the police now take prisoners to Laborie, Micoud or Choiseul.

Nicholas was tight-lipped on some questions posed by the media saying they might cloud the investigation into the matter.

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The teenager was arrested and filmed by a homeowner inside his house

(SNO) – The police on Monday was unable to give an update of a teenager who was arrested and charged for burglary recently.

The 15-year-old was filmed by a homeowner after he was caught in his house last week and apprehended. He reportedly had in his possession a cutlass, a knife and a mask.

The video was posted on social media and has since gone viral.

Reports indicate that he was charged and sent to Boys Training Centre in Massade, Gros Islet but MBC Prime is reporting that it’s sources have revealed he has since escaped.

At a press briefing on Monday, Superintendent George Nicholas, was asked about the matter but he could not give any further details.

“I have not followed up to find out the updates on that,” he stated. “I know he was brought to court, he was charged and brought to court,” he stated.

He explained that the law makes provisions for the treatment of a juvenile when he or she is arrested by the police, saying that he was first released into the care of his mother.

“And given the time of the arrest, we were not able to make the necessary arrangement to have the accommodation juvenile friendly, so to speak,” he said. “And that is why he was initially released into the care of his mother.”

The video has since initiated debate across the island over the exposure of the image of a minor.

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Screenshots of the man in the viral video.

(SNO) — A video of a bloodied man with gruesome chop wounds has been circulating on social media. And the victim has been identified.

A Saint Lucia Fire Service official told St. Lucia News Online on Saturday that the man in the video is 43-year-old Ryan Alphred, who sustained a severed left wrist and lacerations to his face/neck in Bexon on Friday, December 13.

The man is currently in serious or critical condition at a hospital, the official said.

The Fire Service responded at 10:35 p.m.

In a 21-second video obtained by our newsroom, the victim is lying motionless, in a pool of blood, on his side, on a concrete column.

The video shows a knife next to the man who is wearing a knapsack. His left wrist is wrapped with blue clothing.

The video also shows two pig carcasses hung behind the injured man, who is barefooted.

A male voice is heard in the video pointing out to an unseen female that the man’s severed hand is in the shop.

“His hand?” the female asks, sounding shocked.

“… Look his hand in the shop there,” the man replies.

The video then shows the man’s hand on the ground as soca music plays in the background.

The Fire Service official told St. Lucia News Online that the victim was transported to Victoria Hospital by ambulance after being “physically assaulted”, suffering “facial trauma” as well as a severed wrist.

Details surrounding the incident were not available.

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(SNO) – Twenty-two Saint Lucians were among 5,379 Caribbean nationals deported from the United States for the fiscal year 2019 according to a News Americas analysis.

The news agency made the analysis based on the latest data from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Fiscal Year 2019 Enforcement and Removal Operations.

The data shows that 22 Saint Lucians were deported from the US in 2019.

The Dominican Republic took the cake in terms of the highest number of nationals deported at 2,186.

This was followed by Cuba with 1,179 nationals sent home.

Jamaica came third with 751 deported and Haiti fourth with 690.

Below are the numbers for the islands in the Lesser Antilles:

-St. Vincent and the Grenadines: 19
-Dominica: 16
-Grenada: 13
-St. Kitts and Nevis: 11
-Anguilla: 2

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(PRESS RELEASE) – As the festive season unfolds, the Department of Home Affairs and National Security is calling on the public to practice heightened personal and public safety against the backdrop of increased social activities during the festive season. Also highlighting personal safety to the citizenry is the Prevention of Trafficking In Persons Task Force, which falls under the auspices of the Department of Home Affairs and National Security.

Chairperson of the Task Force Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey noted that the dynamics of Trafficking in Persons is strongly linked to vulnerabilities such as financial hardship, unemployment, or in some cases parental neglect and abandonment.

“Those who are not very fortunate may feel pressured to take unnecessary risks. Several people are also traveling during this time of year. Therefore, we want to appeal to the public, particularly young adults, to be vigilante and self-aware at all times. If possible help to sensitize another person to also practice increased caution,” explained the Chairperson of the Prevention of Trafficking In Persons Task Force Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey, who added that sensitization efforts will continue in the new year.”

Trafficking In Persons involves an act committed for the purpose of exploiting someone’s labour or services. Victims are compelled to provide their labour or services under circumstances which are forced, unsafe inhumane, and illegal.

The Trafficking In Persons 24 – hour toll free number is 847. The public is encouraged to call the hotline number should they feel endangered by traffickers or if they suspect that someone else is being subjected to this crime. For more information on Trafficking In Persons, please visit the website www.antitraffickingslu.org. In the Meantime, the Task Force for the Prevention of Trafficking In Persons, under the auspices of the Department of Home Affairs and National Security last month convened a Task Force meeting to officially mark the commencement of the new triennium.

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A drive-by shooting (photo for dramatization)

(SNO) — The Gros Islet police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred on Thursday evening, December 19.

According to law enforcement sources, a man was shot and injured around 6 p.m. in the town of Gros Islet.

The man was transported to hospital in stable condition, sources said.

No further details about the incident are available but we will provide updates as they come in.

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Cletus (left) and Michael

(SNO) — Following the discovery of a decomposed male body in Garrand, Babonneau on Thursday morning, December 19, the authorities and the public’s attention are focused again on a number of persons who have been reported missing over the past year.

Two of the most prominent cases are that of 83-year-old Gros Islet resident and businessman Cletus Hippolyte, alias ‘Banana Split’, and 18-year-old Michael Blaze, alias ‘Coco’ or ‘Rock’ of Mangue, Vieux Fort.

Hippolyte was last seen in the Gros-Islet area between Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27, while Blaze was reportedly last seen on Sunday, November 24 shortly after being released from the Choiseul Police Station without charge.

Could the decomposed body be that of either one of the missing men?

So far police can only say the remains found in the bushy area of Garrand is that of a male, and that only a portion of the body was found. The rest is believed to have decomposed and/or eaten by animals, according to sources

HTS has reported that the remains were discovered just before 11 a.m. Thursday.

One resident told HTS that other residents had noticed a foul smell coming from the area but it was nothing strange because dead animals are regularly dumped in the bushes of the community.

“I’m not happy with it because that’s the second body they getting in the area. That’s not nice at all. Probably they get they take the person how far come and drop him or she there. How is Garrand?” she told HTS.

She said in 1984 a dead body was found in the area.

The resident further told HTS that she is not fearful despite the discovery.

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Gillian Charlemagne

(SNO) —  Police are investigating the suspected suicide of another male in Laborie.

The latest victim has been identified as Gillian Charlemagne, who was reportedly found hanging in a room at his house in Banse, La Grace this afternoon (Friday, Dec. 20).

Reports are that Charlemagne, who was in his 40’s, was a carpenter/furniture maker.

The discovery was made by one of his relatives around 3 p.m., according to reports reaching St. Lucia News Online.

Gillian Charlemagne

This is the second suspected suicide in the community in five days.

The body of Mckenis Bertin, 41, of La Haut, found hanging from the steel frame of an abandoned greenhouse, next to a dwelling house, around 6 a.m. on Sunday, December 15.

A 41-second video showing the body hanging in the bushes went viral on social media.

The video shows curious onlookers converging on the scene.

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