A Riviere Mittant woman has said she is living in fear after a group of men attempted to burglarise her home on Tuesday, June 4, 2014.

Though she was at work at the time, Cecile Bruno said the news that four men had jumped from a pickup holding a scaffold and ladder and attempted to gain access to her home at Riviere Mittant, Gros Islet, left her in a state of shock.

The incident, according to her in an interview with Saint Lucia News Online (SNO), occurred at about 1:35 p.m.

“My neighbour called me and asked if I sent anybody to paint for me. I said no. She told me there are four guys in a green van who said they came to paint for me … The two of them went to the back of the house and two stayed at the front. They were already putting their ladder and scaffold down and everything … Two neighbours were watching them and they said they gonna finish another job [somewhere else and] they would be back,” Bruno told SNO.

She said two of the men were able to enter her house from the back.

“So when the neighbour said, ‘you all come and paint, [no] that’s robbery that there’, they just left. They just put the scaffold back in the van and everything and then they left,” Bruno told SNO.

Bruno said the men were described as two rastas, a “red-skinned feller” and “another tall one.”

The vehicle the men used was described as a green van with some pink outline at the bottom. The men did not take anything from her home. She was adamant that she does not know any of them and never invited anyone to work on her home.

According to Bruno, there was no number plate at the back of the pickup, but there was one at the front which was difficult to decipher based on how it was parked.

Bruno recalled that exactly two years ago thieves had taken everything at her house in a similar manner. “And this afternoon, exactly two years after, they came back.”

The woman explained that she had installed burglar bars in certain areas of her home.

She said she has since learnt of a similar incident which occurred to someone in her neighbourhood last year. The owner had received a call while at work and was informed that someone was in his home but when he rushed there the robber had already gone.

Speaking about today’s incident Bruno told SNO, “People have to be careful these days … That shocking me. I cannot eat; I cannot sleep. Right now, I don’t know exactly what to do again.”

She lives with her boyfriend.

Police are investigating.

A Toyota AE100 has been reported stolen as of this Wednesday morning (June 4).

The owner of the vehicle, Samuel Alexander of Morne Du Don, told St Lucia News Online (SNO) his wife first discovered the vehicle missing around 6 a.m., when she opened their apartment door and did not see it parked in the front yard.

Alexander said he checked outside for his car, after his wife asked him where he had parked it.

The Morne Du Don man told SNO that he parked his vehicle in front of his door at about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, and placed the keys on his dinner table. Since then, he said he did not leave the house.

The distressed man said it is unusual for something of that nature to occur in that area.

The white Toyota car, bearing registration number PK 3003, is fully tinted and carries a sticker at the back window screen which reads, “Exercise daily, walk with God.”

The man said he has already contacted the police station and relatives to assist in finding his vehicle.

Only last week, a Corinth woman reported that her vehicle was stolen from her premises. The woman said she last saw her silver 2008 Daihatsu Terios, registration number HG2129, at about 8:45 on (May 27), sometime before going to bed. She explained that the stolen Terios was one of the vehicles she rents as part of her rental business. The woman is still to locate her vehicle.

Not actual photo of stolen ciborium. However, this is what  a ciborium looks like.

When the priest of the La Clery Catholic Church approached the tabernacle on Wednesday, the last thing he thought would go missing is the ciborium – a gold-plated cup used to store what Catholics refer to as ‘The Body of Christ.’

Now, access has been restricted to the place of worship, which is normally open to the public during the day.

Limited access will be only be during regular church services, held between 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily.

Priest Bonifacio Burlaza told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today (June 4) that this is not the first time that such an incident has happened.

Father Burlaza said the ciborium was stolen before, but was later recovered by church members.

He said the incident is an unfortunate one, since the ciborium is used often to carry out communion. The catholic priest said that he was suspicious of a man in the church on Monday and requested that he left the building.

However, he believes the man may have returned and stole the ciborium, which is stored in the “sacred tabernacle.”

Priest Burlaza expressed concern that the bandit may return and steal other items. The priest said that the church had also encountered theft during its construction phase. Several construction materials were reportedly stolen and had to be replaced by the church.

A ciborium is a receptacle shaped like a cup with an arched cover, used in the Christian Church to hold a church ceremony. It is used to store the Eucharist waver, used during communion.

Father Burlaza told SNO that he is unaware what other purpose the ciborium could be used for. He expressed concern that it might be used for evil purposes.

He said bandits also stole his personal items, including a watch most recently. He said he has reported the matter to the police, but no feedback has been forthcoming.

The church mass will not be affected however, since Fr. Burlaza indicated there is more than one ciborium.

He would like the public’s assistance with locating the cup.

There is no happy ending for a Corinth woman who recently lost her 2008 Daihatsu Terios to theft.

The shell of the vehicle was found in the bushes outside of Babonneau today, June 4, 2014.

A 2008 Daihatsu Terios.

Virginia Auguiste confirmed that the Terios, registration HG 2129, which was stolen from her home while she slept on May 26, was found in one location while some other parts such as the engine and gear stick were recovered at another location. These are now housed at the Gros Islet Police Station.

The car in question was one of a few vehicles which the Auguiste uses for her car rental business.

Speaking to Saint Lucia News Online (SNO) Auguste said she was heartbroken when she saw the car for the first time today.

As the attached photos indicate, the Terios was stripped off its windscreen, wheels, doors, lights and other parts.

Auguiste said she has no other choice but to put things in place to replace the vehicle. As to whether anyone has been arrested or under suspicion of the crime, Auguste said she is hopeful that someone will be apprehended since the engine and other parts were found at a separate location.

“It’s just scary that people have no regard for others,” she said in a shaky voice to an SNO reporter.

In an interview with SNO the day after the vehicle was stolen, Auguste had expressed hope of finding the vehicle, noting that she had spent a lot to keep it in good shape and legal.

The decision to resist an armed robber who attempted to confiscate her cellphone near her school left 16-year-old Nichole Elibox of the St. Joseph Convent nursing stab wounds to the hand.

The teen, who spoke to Saint Lucia News Online (SNO), said she was walking from school with two friends on Tuesday June 3, at about 3:15 p.m. when a young man approached her “acting like he knew” her.

She said, before she knew it, the man had his hand in her pocket attempting to steal her cell phone. She resisted, which led to pull out a knife. The struggle continued. During that time, Elibox said she burst the man’s chain and tore his t-shirt.

Here is her account of the entire incident: “I was walking down with two of my friends and a boy bumped into one of my friends at first, then he came straight to me. My hands were in my pocket and so was my phone. Then he approached me like he knew me but I didn’t know him. All the time it was my phone he was taking. And then I struggled with him and he pulled out a knife. I saw the knife … he cut me on my left hand, then I burst his chain. I tore his shirt. Then he cut me on the right hand and then when I saw the blood that’s when I let go and then he ran away.”

Elibox – a resident of Marc – said she got five stitches on the left hand and four on the right as a result of the injuries.

The robber got off with the cell phone.

Surprisingly, when asked whether she was scared during the ordeal, the teen said she was never fazed.

“To be honest, I had no thoughts, no feelings. When he cut me I felt nothing. After a good while when they were calming me down that’s when I felt the cuts because they were really starting to hurt,” she told SNO.

The fourth form student said that while her family is not too worried about the phone being stolen they are quite disheartened that she was hurt and “they really want the police to get him.”

She reiterated a need for the police to apprehend and have the criminal put away because, “I don’t want anybody looking for trouble. I don’t want my parents’ to take the law into the hands because their right can turn into their wrong. I don’t want anything like that to happen.”

The robber was described as dark, tall man with a missing tooth on the top jaw. He had a clean cut.

The police are investigating.

While admitting that no official reports have been documented, police in the south of the island have said that they are concerned about “on the street” reports that a group of men driving around in a vehicle may be abducting, attacking and/or raping females.

Saint Lucia News Online (SNO) has received Blackberry and Facebook alerts from persons warning women to be vigilant about such alleged attacks. A license plate number of that vehicle is also being circulated, which SNO will not disclose until the information is authenticated and confirmed by police.

Both Vieux Fort and Micoud police have said they are aware of the rumours, however no one has made reports to the police. They would like the victims of these alleged crimes to report the matter – whether the abduction or attack was successful or not.

“We don’t have anything documented. We don’t have any reports investigating … however, it is on the streets … attempts have been made but nobody has come forward. We don’t have anything on record,” a police source told SNO.

Police in the south say they have been on guard since the rumours.

“When it affects one district, the other district will be put on alert because criminals are moving all over the place.

“We need to know the information. We need to take statements from persons. Nobody has been forthcoming,” the police officer said.

The source did confirm however, that a woman was recently assaulted in Vieux Fort by some unknown persons on a vehicle. She was robbed of her money and cell phone.

Police are reporting that a string of robberies which were occurring in the south of the island allegedly by a group of men who drove around in a vehicle have subsided.

In mid-May Saint Lucia News Online (SNO) reported that police were soliciting the culprits who had been targeting persons who were in isolated areas at night.

However, a police source in the area told SNO on Thursday that while no arrests have been made so far, police have implemented certain measures which have seemingly deterred the robbers. Some “serious” night patrols and stop-and-search operations are among these measures.

“It appears that has served as some form of a deterrent. That has actually worked for us in the sense that we received very few reports recently,” the source said.

“We have not made any progress [in terms of arrests] however we are pursuing some clues quite vigorously and we’re hoping to at least get some information which will hopefully lead us to some suspects right now.”

It is believed that four men travelling in a car had been robbing individuals in Laborie, Micoud, Vieux Fort and other southern communities. Just on May 10, there were four armed robberies in Micoud.

The Electoral office on High Street, Castries was burglarised on Friday morning, June 6, 2014.

Acting Chief Elections Officer Gasper Jn Baptiste, in an interview with Saint Lucia News Online, (SNO) said that save for a few office supplies such as dish-washing liquid and milk, nothing else is reported missing.

He said that all electronic equipment is intact, though every locked desk was forced open and ransacked.

Staff had noticed the office was broken into at about 7:30 a.m. when they opened the building for work.

Jn Baptiste noted that based on what he observed, kitchen backdoor on the second floor of the building was forced open.

“In terms of paper and files … they were ransacked so we cannot tell you if one letter was taken because of the way it was done,” he said.

This is not the first burglary at the Electoral Office. The most recent one occurred in July 2010.

“From time-to-time we get these things,” Jn Baptiste said.

The acting chief elections officer said the effort to open the door would have caused loud noises based on the damage done to the door.

Police are investigating.

The Richfond Police Station is seeking the public’s assistance in connection with a house burglary in Dennery on Friday, June 6.

Reports are that a house at Despin, Aux Lyon was broken into and  items, such as a white 7″ Apple iPad, gold chains, a silver earring, a beige cell phone along with cash, were stolen.

Anyone with information or know of someone suspicious who has these items selling, to please contact the Richfond Police Station at 456-3690 or any police station.

A middle-aged man was attacked and chopped in Grand Ravine, Dennery last night (June 8).

Police sources told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that Brian Olice, who is in his early 50s, was chopped on both arms by a known assailant at about 10:30 p.m.

The incident occurred near Olice’s home in Grand Ravine.

Police sources say neighbours are keeping quiet about the identity of the assailant.

Sources say Olice has been admitted at hospital and was scheduled to undergo surgery.

A post-mortem examination on Petus Thomas of Extension, Micoud found motionless in his home has revealed that he died of cardiac arrest or heart attack.

Both police and family confirmed Thomas’ cause of death.

Thomas aka “Shorty” was found dead on May 26. Foul play has been ruled out, following the post-mortem results.

His daughter, Vicky Sanus the family collected the post-mortem results from police yesterday (June 9). She said that they are still to decide on a date to bury her father.

Sanus said based on the financial constraints, the family will have to pool resources together to assist with the burial.

Linus Constantine

The mother of missing 18-year-old youth leader Linus Constantine is accusing the Royal St Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) of playing “cat and mouse “with the investigation into her missing son.

Juliana Goolaman told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today (June 10) that she is being given a push-around by police officials whenever she tries to get an update into the DNA reports.

Goolaman told SNO, “I keep calling and they keep saying they don’t know what’s going on. Everywhere I call I am being told they don’t know.”

The teen’s mother said she has reached a point where she is frustrated and don’t know what next to do.

Goolaman told SNO that she visited the police office two weeks ago to pick up her son’s identification card and was told the same thing. She along with relatives keep calling and they too are being pushed around.

Goolaman was last told that the DNA samples of a body found at Marisule beach was sent to the forensic lab to be tested, to determine whether it is that of her teenage son. Goolaman and Constantine’s father had mouth swabs taken by the police.

The frustrated mother explained that she even attempted to meet with the police commissioner, but that too was unsuccessful. According to her, a date was set and later cancelled, since then nothing has been said about a future appointment or whether they will be one at all.

In a previous interview, Goolaman said she wants some closure to the issue and is urging the police force to fast-track the test. This result will either prove that the body is that of her son or not.

Since April 28 relatives of the missing teen was told that the results would be ready in two weeks. However, to date no information regarding this investigation has been revealed. Goolaman said she doesn’t know what to believe, if the body is his or he is still alive.

Constantine was officially reported missing on April 27. He is originally from Foriesterre, Castries but has three homes. He was last known to be staying by a friend in Corinth, Gros Islet.

Today marks one week and four days since 13-year-old Serena Cox was last seen and her guardians are growing increasingly worried.

Serena was last seen at her Beausejour, Gros Islet home on the evening of Friday, May 30.

A guardian, who requested anonymity, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today, June 10, that police took another statement today in relation to the teenager’s disappearance. She said “human services” has also joined the police in the investigation.

She said tips of Serena’s whereabouts have turned out to be negative and the police also have no new information. When asked if Serena’s father knows anything about her daughter’s whereabouts, the guardian said the father is also clueless.

Serena was last seen wearing “a white cami and red and white PJ shorts”. She is about 5ft tall, of light complexion and has a scar on the right side of her forehead.

She had been living with her guardians since April following the death of her mother from liver failure.

“Social services entrusted her in our care,” the guardian said in an earlier interview.

Persons with information about Serena’s whereabouts can call 486-7879.

PRESS RELEASE - Gang violence has been fueling many violent encounters and serious crimes on the island, particularly among male youth.

In recent times the authorities have sought to address the issue at the highest levels in order to send a clear message that gang activity will not be tolerated. The Anti-Gang Act, No.4 of 2014 is one aspect of the strategy aimed at addressing gang activity and ensuring safe communities.

The Anti–Gang Act No. 4 of 2014 criminalizes gang related activity. These include gang membership, facilitating gang-related criminal activities, advising gangs, and recruiting for gangs.

The law establishes stiff penalties for gang activity, with most punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment if convicted in a court.

It is also an indictable offence if someone commits an offence for someone to commit an offence for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a gang.

The act makes an offence for a person to have a bullet proof vest, firearm, ammunition or any equipment, instrument, material or other device , whether lawfully obtained or not , with the intention that it may be used in committing an offence for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a gang . A person who commits an offence under section 4 is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $100,000.00 and imprisonment of 10 years.

The act makes it an offence to aid and abet, directly or indirectly any person to commit an offence identified under the Act. If convicted that person is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for 10 years.

Further, the act stipulates that the Court may impose a more severe penalty on the convicted person, if certain factors or conditions existed in the commission of the offence.

These include where:

* The person who was aided or abetted, or who was prevented from leaving the gang, was a minor at the time of the offence;

* The offence involved gang-related activity within one mile of a school or place of worship or health institutions;

* The person convicted was a law enforcement officer at the time the offence was committed; or

* The person convicted is a gang leader.

Young persons should make positive choices in respect of the activities in which they engage. Joining gangs and engaging in gang activities should be avoided as this could lead to many years of incarceration.

Communities must support and encourage young persons to lead positive lives and denounce drugs, gangs and violence. Let us join together for the development of Saint Lucia.

Homicide victim: Shervon Alexis. * Photo submitted

Police said two persons are currently in custody “assisting police” with the investigations into last night’s fatal shooting in Faux-A-Chaud, Castries.

Shervon Chris Alexis aka Chunky, 27, was shot while he sat near the entrance of his house in an area called “The Slab” at about 11:30 p.m., according to residents.

Reports are that he was shot once in the chest but other shots were fired. Residents rushed him to Victoria Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“People saw the gunman but he was wearing a mask,” a resident said.

Residents alleged that Alexis was involved in a dispute earlier this week in which a cutlass was brought into play, but still do not believe this may have caused his demise.

St. Lucia News Online (SNO) understands that Alexis was granted bail from prison recently.

Alexis and Trandy Henry aka Cripple were charged with the attempted murder of Venus Raymond (age 26 at the time) of Trouya, Gros Islet.

Raymond sustained gunshot wounds in Faux-A-Chaud on Dec. 14, 2012 at about 4:45 p.m. He was treated and released from hospital.

In one of the court hearings covered by SNO, attorney for Alexis and Henry, Leslie Mondesir, had renewed his application for bail on behalf of his clients due to the inability of the prosecution to proceed forthwith on Jan. 24, 2013.

According to the report, “bail was again denied despite Mondesir’s plea for leniency and his insistence that his clients posed no further threat to Raymond”.

“Even the assurance of thrice-weekly reporting to the Beat and Patrol Unit was not enough to sway Magistrate Michelle Louis,” SNO had reported.

However, several Faux-A-Chaud residents believed that Alexis’ death on Tuesday night was not related to Raymond’s shooting.

Sources say Alexis and close relatives have been embroiled in a bitter dispute with other persons in the area long before Raymond’s shooting.

According to the sources, tensions were heightened over the weekend and resulted in several arguments and altercations between the deceased and other persons.

Residents are fearful that the shooting may spark another gang war in the Faux-A-Chaud/Hospital Road area which resulted in at least four homicide and several other non-fatal shootings.

Vernon Fracois. Photo credit: nationnews.com.

Police Commissioner Vernon Francois will have the floor later this month to outline the police force’s plans and efforts in controlling, detecting and preventing crime on island.

Francois will be the guest speaker at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture’s executive luncheon on Tuesday, June 24 at Bay Gardens Beach Resort at 12:30 p.m.

The chamber has been hosting a series of informative executive luncheons where the business community is advised on business, economic and social issues by an invited speaker.

The St. Lucia Chamber has extended an invitation to the entire business community.

Those seeking further information can contact the chamber at 452-3165 or email info@stluciachamber.org.

PRESS RELEASE - The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) is seeking the assistance of the public in locating 13-year-old Serena Cox of Caye Mange, a quarter of Beausejour, Gros Islet.

She was last seen by her guardian about 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2014 at their residence at Caye Mange. At the time, she was wearing a red and white pajama shorts and a white spaghetti strap vest.

Cox is light skin in complexion and about 5 feet tall. She has a scar on the right side of the forehead. She usually wears the front of her hair in a bang to hide the scar.

The RSLPF is appealing to anyone who knows of the whereabouts of Serena Cox to contact the Gros Islet Police Station at telephone number 456 3830 or the nearest police station.

The RSLPF is making every effort to thoroughly investigate this matter.

A cache of weapons confiscated from secondary school students in and around the Castries basin. Among the items is a rope which was taken from an 11-year-old who had the intention of committing suicide, police said. Marijuana and cigarettes were also confiscated.

Serena Cox who has been missing for one week and six days has been found.

The police have reported on its official Facebook Page that she was found unharmed.

“The RSLPF would like to thank persons who assisted in locating her. This is the direction that the police and community should head into, the ability to work together. Thank you to all,” the police stated in a Facebook post 40 minutes ago.

Her relative told Saint Lucia News Online this morning (June 12) that she was on her way to the police station to see Cox. She had no information as yet re where the 13-year-old was found.

However, a press release from the police public relations officer indicated Cox was found last evening at Union, Castries.

SNO first reported that Cox had disappeared from her guardian’s home at Caye Mange, Gros Islet. She was last seen by her guardian about 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

The RSLPF is appealing to members of the public to inform a family member or friend of their whereabouts whenever they wish to live their place of dwelling for extended periods.

A police officer exhibits the weapons found from students.

PRESS RELEASE - The Community Relations Branch, (CRB) of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) this week placed on exhibition a collection of confiscated weapons, dangerous objects, alcohol and marijuana which were confiscated from the students of schools in the Castries basin or while on police patrol.

In one instance a rope was confiscated which was intended for committing suicide by an 11 year old. The items were collected from January to October, 2013. Corporal Ted King who heads the CRB says in many instances school principals summon the police to conduct random searches or address problematic situations.

While some students are confronting emotional issues or domestic problems, Corporal King explained that most students admit that they carry the dangerous items for protection because they are in conflict with other persons.

“We talk to the students and we tell them it is very dangerous to be carrying these weapons because it can be used against them as well. If there is a problem report it to the principal, the teachers. They can also report these matters to the police but do not try to handle it themselves”.

The overall aim of these exercises is to curb school violence and violence among the youth. The intervention of the Community Relations Branch has yielded positive results including counseling for students and in more serious matters the intervention of the Family Court.

The police noted a decrease in the amount of contraband and weapons which were confiscated    compared to the previous year.