PRESS RELEASE - On Wednesday, January 28, 2015, Cletus Emmanuel was admitted to the Bordelais Correctional facility for the offence of Possession of controlled drugs.

On Monday January 26, 2015, he was convicted before the Second District Court at Dennery for the offence and was sentenced to be imprisoned with hard labour for a term of 12 months.

Cletus Emmanuel, a resident of Green Mountain, Dennery was on January 01, 2015 intercepted at the outer perimeter of the Bordelais Correctional Facility by members of the Special Operations Response team.

It was suspected that he was attempting to smuggle the items into the Facility.He was apprehended and had in his possession four (04) cellular phones, two (02) hacksaw blades, three (03) cellular phone chargers, four (04) lighters, one (01) cell phone battery, one (01) packet cigarette paper (rizzla) and a quantity of green plant material appearing to be cannabis.

He was escorted to the Dennery Police station and was charged for the offence of Possession of Cannabis and Possession with intent to supply to another.

Emmanuel appeared before the Second District Court on January 05, 2015 where he received bail of five hundred dollars ($500.00) cash or suitable surety on the charge of Possession of Cannabis and seven hundred and fifty dollars (750.00) cash or suitable surety on the charge of Possession with the intent to supply to another.

On January 26, 2015, Emmanuel returned to court where he pleaded guilty on the charge of Possession of Cannabis. However, the charge of Possession with intent to supply was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Mr. Emmanuel has been convicted previously and incarcerated on one count of Carnal Knowledge, fourteen counts of stealing and five counts of forfeiture of bail.

A Forestiere couple was scammed by a young man in Castries yesterday, when they attempted to sell a pair of wedding bands.

Melle Peters said she had placed an advertisement on Facebook with regards to selling the wedding bands and someone replied informing her that he is interested.

The individual told Peters that his mother “Christina Cyril” was interested in purchasing the rings for his sister, who is planning on getting married soon.

Peters said she decided to send her husband Greg, who agreed to meet with the unknown individual near the SDA church in Castries.

According to her, Greg called the number he was given and within a few minutes a young man who appeared to be in his early 20’s approached him for the weddings bands.

Peters said that her husband related to her that the young man said that his mother wanted to see the rings first, but told Greg that she was in church.

Greg handed the rings over to the young man, without first collecting the money. According to the couple, the young man took off with the wedding bands and never returned.

Peters said after realizing that he may have been scammed, her husband went into the church to inquire about him and his mother. Unfortunately, church members said they never heard of the name nor seen the individual that Greg described to them.

While Peters admitted that she made a wrong move, she said no one is to be trusted. Upon investigating further, they were told that the young man may be from Vieux Fort.

A formal report was made with the Central Police Station in Castries. Peters said the wedding bands are worth $2000. The couple tried contacting the individual countless times, but to no avail.

The individual’s Facebook user name is Ibe Kiki. His Whatsapp number is 715-1863 and his cell phone number is 728-7339. If anyone knows of this person, they can make contact the nearest police station or Peters on 729-9264.

PRESS RELEASE - On Friday January 30, 2015, about 11:00 p.m. a combined team of officers from the Royal St Lucia Police Force, conducted a search operation at Admiral Quay, a villa complex situated at Rodney Bay, Gros-Islet.

During the search of an apartment, a small quantity of cannabis and a bag containing a significant amount of EUROs in various denominations were recovered.

At the time of the search, the apartment was occupied by three men, a Venezuelan, a Haitian and a national of the Dominican Republic.

The cash was subsequently counted in the presence of the three men and their attorney, totaling $113, 700 EUROs.

All three men were arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled drugs and unlawful possession of cash.

The matter has been referred to the Financial Intelligence Authority for further investigations.

PRESS RELEASE - The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, RSLPF, has declared the first month of the year– January 2015, as having registered zero homicides.

Commissioner of Police Mr. Vernon Francois describes this feat as a small victory for the entire island and credits the victory to the citizenry. In contrast, the year 2014 registered   six homicides in the month of January.

Mr. Francois says this achievement proves to all that it is possible for citizens to rally together with the police and other partners in the society, to achieve a peaceful and law abiding nation.

“Obviously we are very happy to register zero homicides last month. This is in keeping with declining trends as we have reported earlier. I have always emphasized that losing one life is one too many. Generally we are about working to achieve zero violence.

As officers of the law we have done some work to help push back against crime and to sensitize the public that killings and hurting each other to settle conflict is not the way to go.

In this vein we recognize   other agencies, the Church, the Social Transformation officers and other youth and community workers and importantly the Education system who partner with us, and strengthen this message.”

Mr. François says the Police continues to push back against gang violence and the scourge of drug trafficking which are often linked to incidents of homicides.

“If is for us to continue to challenge ourselves to cherish the value of life.  I would like to particularly challenge our young men to turn away from acts of violence and to try to direct their energies positively”.

The last time that the records of the RSLPF reflected nil for January homicides on an island wide level was in the year 2000, exactly 15 years ago.

CMC – The St. Lucia police said for the first time in 15 years, the island did not record a murder in the month of January.

“Obviously we are very happy to register zero homicides last month.  This is in keeping with declining trends as we have reported earlier,” said Commissioner of Police Vernon Francois.

“I have always emphasised that losing one life is one too many. Generally we are about working to achieve zero violence,” he said, noting that law enforcement officers have helped push back and sensitise the population on crime, especially murders.

“In this vein we recognise   other agencies, the Church, the social transformation officers and other youth and community workers and importantly the education system who partner with us, and strengthen this message,” Francois said.

He said the police would continue to fight gang violence as well as the illegal drug trade often linked to murders.

“If is for us to continue to challenge ourselves to cherish the value of life.  I would like to particularly challenge our young men to turn away from acts of violence and to try to direct their energies positively”, he noted.

Sherman Williams (left) and Jevon Demming.

BVI NEWS ONLINE - Two cousins from the British Virgin Island (BVI) have been given lengthy prison sentences for shooting a Saint Lucian national.

BVI footballer Jevon Demming has been sentenced to 7 years in prison on an attempted murder charge while his cousin Sherman Williams has been sentenced to 15 years.

Williams was given an additional 10 years on a charge of possession of firearm with intent to endanger life. His sentences will run concurrently, effectively meaning that he will only spent 15-years behind bars.

The sentences were handed down in the High Court this morning (February 2, 2015) by Justice Nicola Byer.

The two cousins were found guilty of attempting to murder St. Lucia native Neil St. Rose outside Rock Café in the Valley, Virgin Gorda, on September 30, 2012.

The prosecution had argued that St. Rose was shot during a confrontation with the cousins inside the parking lot area of Rock Café, BVI. St. Rose, during the trial, told the court that he went to the Café where a party was in full swing.

He stated that, while inside the bar, he had few alcoholic beverages before proceeding to the dance-floor where he danced with women. He further testified that, when he finished dancing, he was standing in a section of the Café when he felt someone push him from behind.

He claimed that he turned around and saw Demming, whom he had known for five years, standing behind him. He asked Demming: “What going on?”

Demming responded by throwing his hands in the air, according to the victim. He added that Demming said something to him, but he did not hear due to the music inside the building.

He testified that, shortly afterwards, he was surrounded by men including Demming’s cousins and Williams. They later left him alone. St. Rose said he left the café and went outside for five minutes before re-entering.

He and other patrons were later leaving the venue and, while walking down the steps, he saw Williams walking ‘slowly’ in front him. The victim stated that he suspected Williams did not want him to leave and, as a result, he pushed Williams.

Williams allegedly walked towards him as though he was about to start a fight, but two persons intervened and quashed the confrontation. St. Rose said he later proceeded to his vehicle.

“Same time I look, I saw Mr. William with a gun,” the victim had told the court. He added that, upon seeing the weapon, he started ‘backing off’ while moving towards his vehicle.

“Then I heard a gunshot. When I look behind, I saw Jevon [Demming] coming. Same time, I grabbed a stone from behind me to defend meself. I saw Mr. Williams coming towards me like 10 to 15 feet away from me with the gun.”

The gunshot victim also testified that he then dropped the stone out of fear that he would have been shot. He claimed that Demming approached him and placed his hand in his face, but he knocked it away.

He added that Demming collared him, and punched him in the face. “As soon as Mr. Williams reached close to me, he (Williams) hit me with the gun at the back of my head.”

He said he fell on his knees and Williams put the gun to his neck; then shot him. St. Rose further testified that he passed out for some time and, when he regained consciousness, he felt his neck area and realized that it was bleeding.

He said he then felt pain in the area of his penis and, as a result, he placed his hand in his pants. He realized that blood was also coming from the area.

He added that that he sought assistance from someone, and was taken to a clinic on Virgin Gorda. He was later transported to Peebles Hospital where he was admitted.

Jonahan St. Rose aka Ninja Dan.

The murder trial of former OECS Soca Monarch Jonathan ‘Ninja Dan’ St. Rose started on Monday in the High Court in Castries.

St. Rose has been charged along with two other men – Lyden Blasse and Marvin Terry Nelson – in connection with the February 2009 death of Dwayne ‘Chubby’ James.

James was stabbed multiple times at Maynard Hill, Marchand on Saturday, February 14, 2009.

St. Rose has been on remand for close to six years at Bordelais Correctional Facility.

Vernon Francois.

Police Commissioner Vernon Francois and other senior police officials will continue to meet with members of various communities across the island this year.

The first town hall meeting is planned for Wednesday, February 11 in Choiseul, where members from that community will be able to meet with the top cop and his team, to discuss crime and security issues.

Francois told that media that the initiative, which started last year, has been well received, even to the point where residents of various communities look forward to these meetings.

During the course of last year, there were five similar meetings in various communities island wide. All of these meetings, according to him, had excellent attendance and several important issues were discussed.

“It is an opportunity for us to discuss with them whatever concerns they may have as regards social issues and any social controls that the police may be able to either enforce or implement,” he said.

The Choiseul meeting will take place at the La Fargue Community Centre and begins at 5p.m The meeting is being organized by the Choiseul Police Station.

Opposition Leader Dr. Gale Rigobert.

Leader of the Opposition Dr. Gale Rigobert has called on Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony to release the Caricom IMPACS Report which contains information about the alleged 2010-2011 police killings, as he had promised.

Dr. Rigobert said given that the report in itself is extremely late, she advised that PM Anthony move quickly to discuss the findings of this report with the public and all those that it concerns.

“It will help to lift the dark cloud that hangs over heads of men and women of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), persons affected and the nation at large,” she told HTS News Force recently.

The opposition leader said that the report has implications for all citizens and the RSLPF as it continues to provide security to the people of the country.She said that time has come for the findings to be made public.

Dr. Rigobert said while the report may include some sensitive information, which would require the prime minister to exercise his judgment on what to reveal, there should be some level of disclosure.

“I hope in time those persons concerned and the Office of the Leader of the Opposition will be afforded the opportunity to engage with the prime minister, as to what this report means for us,” she added.

In his New Year’s Address Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony had promised to release the findings of the report early this month in a public address. He also revealed that his cabinet was deliberating on the contents and implications of the report.

Members of the RSLPF were accused of the extra-judicial killings between 2009 and 2011, during Operation Restore Confidence. The United States had used the incident to cut back on aid to St. Lucia.

In August 2013, the United States officially informed the St. Lucia government that Washington had suspended assistance to the RSLPF, citing human rights violations.

A ban was also placed on all St. Lucian police officers, including its chief Vernon François, who was, about a year ago, prevented from travelling to the United States to represent regional police commanders at a Conference of Black Police Officers in the United States.

A team of police officials from Jamaica was appointed to investigate the alleged police killings. The Caricom IMPACS probe will determine whether there was wrongdoing in the 12 police killing.

PRESS RELEASE - The Marchand Police Station is about to embark on its very first community policing project for the year.

On Friday, February 6, 2015 the lawmen will team up with the Marchand Football Committee from 7 a.m. in order to construct a footpath for Bernadette Francois, an elderly citizen, who is in need of better access to her home.

A Community Policing Group was formed in Marchand during a “Meet The Commissioner” town hall meeting in the Marchand Parish Centre in May last year.

The committee comprises members of the Marchand community, and officers of the Marchand Police Station.

The main objective of the committee is to adopt a community policing approach which engages groups, individuals of influence and residents in a manner that will harness the human resource capacity of the police and community members of Marchand.

Inspector Patrick Scholar, Officer in Charge of the Marchand Police Station and Chairperson of the committee says this joint initiative in the “Boboville area” Upper Arundel Hill, will be actively  followed by others over the coming months.

In December the Marchand Police donated a hamper to the St. Lucy’s Home. Recently the police also teamed up with the Solid Waste Management Authority to address the eyesore of derelict vehicles in the Marchand area.

The Marchand Police Station made local history as the first community policing pilot project, police station.

At the time the station achieved resounding success under the command of former Officer in Charge Frances Henry, now Assistant Commissioner of Police.

PRESS RELEASE - In continued efforts to halt the cultivation of cannabis, the Anse La Raye Police on Wednesday, February, 04, 2015, conducted an eradication exercise in the Aupos area around 9:20 a.m.

2,700 plants were uprooted however; no arrests were made on this occasion.

The Anse La Raye Police has noted that generally incidents of crime in the fishing village remain low; however the police remain vigilant and active in the fight against drug trafficking and drug abuse.

Commissioner of Police Mr. Vernon Francois, in a recent statement reiterated that cannabis remains an illegal substance on the law books of Saint Lucia. The island, Mr. Francois says will not be a safe haven for drug trafficking.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has undertaken a number of successful operations to crackdown on crime and according to the Commissioner of Police, there will be no abating of efforts on the part of law men to ensure that this momentum continues.

A group of men are suspected of stealing people’s ATM card information in the north of the island.

Reports are that the men installed a flat portable ATM card receiver at one bank’s ATM machine, which recorded users ATM card information.

“The ATM machine would give you your money, but the thieves would have all your information and make a similar card to withdraw or make online purchases,” a reliable source confirmed.

St. Lucia News Online (SNO) understands that a fraudulent portable fitted ATM card slot apparatus was removed by technicians from the ATM machine, after it was discovered by a customer.

The customer discovered the portable apparatus, because it was slightly protruding out of the ATM card slot. It was also sprayed with the same colour as the ATM machine and was stuck with some adhesive.

Reports are that the cameras were reviewed by the police and the bank’s management, where they were able to identify that a group of men were responsible for installing the ATM card receiver.

No one has since been arrested. The matter is being investigated by the police.

Shaquan

British police are investigating the stabbing death of a teenager who has ties to St. Lucia.

Shaquan Sammy-Plummer, of Finsbury Park, was stabbed to death in Berkeley Gardens, in Bush Hill Park, Enfield on January 30.

His family is reportedly from Pierrot, Vieux-Fort.

Below is a report from the Independent newspaper in the UK 

The 17-year-old was taken to a central London hospital in a critical condition but died shortly after he arrived.

Friends used social media to leave tributes and condolences to the teenager, known as Shaq, who worked part-time at Waitrose supermarket.

A doctor, who was part of the London air ambulance team that intercepted the ambulance taking Mr Sammy-Plummer to hospital, attempted to perform open heart surgery on the teenager.

Mr Sammy-Plummer was a student at La Sainte Union, one of the four sixth form colleges that make up the La SWAP consortium.

Deputy headteacher at La Sainte Union, Fiona Boyle said: “Shaquan was a highly motivated and able student studying A-levels in history, sociology and business studies at La Sainte Union and was in receipt of five offers from universities for September. Shaquan was a lovely young man who was well liked by students and staff and had a strong presence in the study areas and common room of the sixth form. This week we have held services, celebrated mass and said prayers together as a community for the repose of his soul. We are deeply saddened by his untimely and shocking death. This has had a profound effect on our whole school community and we appreciate this time to mourn. Our sympathies and prayers are with his family at this time.”

A further statement on the school’s website read: “The school is very sad to inform everyone in the LSU community of the death of one of our Year 13 students, Shaquan Sammy-Plummer. Our prayers and condolences go out to his family and friends. Please contact the school if you would like to know more about the counselling services we are offering our students who were connected to Shaquan in any way. May he rest in peace.”

A 17-year-old was arrested in Edmonton on January 31 and a 21-year-old man was arrested on Sunday, 1 February on suspicion of murder.

Four others – two 17-year-old boys, a 17-year-old girl and a 46-year-old woman – were also arrested, and all six have been bailed to return to March.

A post-mortem and formal identification are both yet to take place and the investigation into Mr Sammy-Plummer’s death continues.

The family of deceased recently released a statement: “We are deeply shocked and saddened at the tragic loss of a very much loved son and brother. Shaquan was a good young man who was doing well at school and was liked and respected by his peers and those who worked with him. He was popular, caring, good-humoured and well-mannered. He was devoted to his family and we are proud of what he achieved in his 17 short years.

“We ask that the press and all concerned respect the privacy and dignity of the Sammy-Plummer family. It is of deep concern to us that his killer has not been found and we ask anyone who may have any information to contact the police as soon as possible to help them with their enquiries. We would like to thank everyone who has supported the family at this very difficult time and it is of comfort to know much Shaquan was loved by so many people who knew him at all stages of his life. May he rest in peace.”

The woman being transported to hospital.

Principal Nursing Officer of the Dennery Hospital Kerthney Charlemagne Surje has called on the Ministry of Health to provide security for the hospital, based on a violent incident that occurred there today.

A male resident of Grand Ravine, Dennery was attacked with a cutlass by a female relative at about 8:30 a.m. today (Feb.6), who wounded her in return, during a domestic dispute.

Reports are that relatives contacted the police who took both individuals to the Dennery Hospital for treatment. But, while awaiting treatment, another altercation ensued between the two.

The man allegedly used sticks to inflict serious injuries to the woman’s head. She was taken to Victoria Hospital for further treatment, while he remained at the Dennery Hospital.

Reports are that the woman was injured in the presence of many patients and medical personnel. The police are being blamed for allowing the incident to occur, since they were allegedly not around when it happened.

Nurse Surje said: “We have been advocating for security for some time now, because we also care for persons from the Bordelais Correctional Facility.”

She continued, “Most time we find that victims come here to finish the disputes they have started and we have been asking for security, because we operate an Emergency Care Department.”

The principal nurse said the nurses were shaken up by the incident. However, a mental health nurse is currently debriefing those who had direct contact with the patient.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Cointha Thomas has denounced the act, stating that the ministry will not allow it to continue.

Thomas said, “The ministry will continue to do all in its in power to make it safe for all staff to deliver health care.” She did not state definitively whether the hospital will get security soon.

CMC - The United States law enforcement authorities say they have seized 989 kilogrammes of cocaine on a vessel carrying a St. Vincent and the Grenadines flag in the Caribbean Sea.

The US Coast Guard said it had collaborated the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in the exercise that also netted 13 men after detaining a delivery vessel and coastal freighter, about eight miles off the coast of Puerto Rico.

Two Venezuelan nationals were charged “with conspiracy to import the aforementioned cocaine shipment,” the Coast Guard said, adding that the cocaine has an estimated street value of US$29 million.

It said that the other suspects detained on the 267-foot St. Vincent and Grenadines flag coastal freighter Atlantic VII were from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Peru, panama and Ecuador. They were also charged with conspiracy to import a controlled substance into the United States.

The cocaine shipment, the detained smugglers, and the delivery vessel were transported to Coast Guard Sector San Juan, and transferred to ICE agents for further investigation, the Coast Guard said.

“Once again the combined efforts of federal law enforcement agencies resulted in the seizure of millions of dollars’ worth of narcotics. Our message continues to be the same: we will detect and interdict drug smugglers attempting to flood our island with their poisonous cargo,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

“These arrests are a clear indication of the continued success of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force,” she added.

A $29 million dollar cocaine shipment, weighing approximately 989 kilograms (2,176 pounds) was found on the ship. (U.S. Coast Guard photo).

PRESS RELEASE - In continued efforts to halt the cultivation of cannabis, the Anse La Raye Police on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, conducted an eradication exercise in the St Lawrence area around 9:20 a.m.

4,100 cannabis plants were uprooted. During the eradication, 23 year old Hudson Augustin of Anse La Raye was arrested and charged for the offences of possession of controlled drug, cultivation of controlled drug and intent to supply a controlled drug.

Augustin appeared before the First District Court where he was fined EC$1,000.00 on the charge of possession, EC$1,000.00 on the charge of cultivation and EC$1,500.00 on the charge of intent to supply.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has undertaken a number of successful operations to crackdown on crime and according to the Commissioner of Police, there will be no abating of efforts on the part of law men to ensure that this momentum continues.

This is the second successful eradication exercise for Anse La Raye Police for the year 2015.

PRESS RELEASE - Zandoli International Foundation disagrees with the Hon Minister of National Security, Victor La Corbiniere’s statement opposing the establishment of a sex offender registry in Saint Lucia.

Zandoli strongly believes that the State can and does have the authority to dictate how people who have been convicted of sex crimes are reintroduced into the society.

The family support system to which the minister refers, is, and has been ill equipped to deal with the prevalence of sexual abusers in the home and community.

In fact the State has to intervene, especially when that sexual abuse was perpetrated within the home. Zandoli is of the opinion that sexual crimes are the same regardless of the country where they are committed.

As a result, tried and proven methods of enforcement, and treatment for offenders remains the same. Sexual crimes are categorized based on risk and the resultant placement of an offender in the sex offender registry will be based on that risk assessment.

The petition is simply asking that the names of convicted offenders be made available to the public. Just as with all other offenders, sexual offenders have exposed themselves to the dictates of the justice system.

A sex offender registry is just one aspect of a larger protection mechanism for the people of Saint Lucia. Zandoli remains committed to the countless silent victims of sex crimes in Saint Lucia and urges all good Saint Lucians to continue this discussion.

An elderly woman from Ti Rocher, Micoud was arrested Saturday afternoon for possession of cannabis.

The woman is believed to be in her early 70′s.

The details surrounding the arrest is not yet available.

St. Lucia News Online will provide more information when it becomes available.

Officers from the Marigot Police Station are investigating a wounding incident which occurred Saturday night, Feb. 14.

Reports reaching St. Lucia News Online are that around 10 p.m., a man identified as Sylvester Lionel sustained injuries to his nose and left hand.

The injuries are not life-threatening, according to sources.

Police and firemen responded to the scene.

No further information at this time.

In his New Year’s Address, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, announced that he would address the nation sometime in early February on the outcome of the investigation of the so-called extra judicial killings by certain officers of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

The Office of the Prime Minister wishes to advise that a new date has been set for the delivery of this address.

According to the Prime Minister, “I am aware that some of our citizens as well as members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force are anxiously awaiting the address. I regret that I have not been able to deliver the address as planned. There are still outstanding issues to resolve prior to my address to our citizens. The address will now be delivered on Sunday, March 08, 2015.”

Members of the Force were accused of the extra-judicial killings between 2009 and 2011, during Operation Restore Confidence. The United States had used the incident to cut back on aid to St. Lucia.

In August 2013, the United States officially informed the St. Lucia government that Washington had suspended assistance to the RSLPF, citing human rights violations.

A ban was also placed on all St. Lucian police officers, including its chief Vernon François, who was,  about a year ago, prevented from travelling to the United States to represent regional police commanders at a Conference of Black Police Officers in the United States.

A team of police officials from Jamaica was appointed to investigate the alleged police killings.