Mary Francis.
Attorney and human rights activist Mary Francis is calling for a full disclosure of the Caricom IMPACS Report, which contains information about the alleged 2010-2011 police killings.
Francis has also voiced her concern over the delay in releasing the report, saying that it is long overdue. She said the delay is causing people to feel weary and disgusted.
The attorney who is also representing the families of two of the men who were murdered during the alleged police shootings said that the families need some closure.
“I am concerned about the whole idea as to who influenced this operation. The report should be able to say who was behind the whole idea “Operation Restore Confidence,” she stated.
Francis alleged that these killings were not normal and didn’t require such excessive force that was used. “The report should also tell us who bought these high-powered guns,” she said.
Leader of the Opposition Dr. Gale Rigobert has also called on Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony to release the Caricom IMPACS Report as 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 the media.
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.
A press statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday, Feb.16 said that Dr. Anthony will deliver the address on Sunday, Mar. 8. The prime minister had initially promised to address the matter in early February.
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.