ACP Henry (right)

As a result of an increasing number of requests an queries from members of the public, government and law enforcement sources, St. Lucia News Online (SNO) has made an official request from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force regarding widespread allegations that an investigation was launched into the disappearance of a quantity of cash from the exhibit room of the Vieux-Fort Police Station.

In response, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Territorial Policing, Frances Henry, did not confirm or deny that such an investigation is underway. She however, asked for “time” to confirm that such an investigation is underway.

“We presently are trying to ascertain your assertions, therefore time is needed to appraise the situation, establish the facts and prepare an official response,” Francis said through her press officer, Zachary Hippolyte on Friday morning, June 5.

On Thursday, SNO submitted questions to the press department by email on the matter.

Below are the questions:

1. Were the monies recovered? And if they were recovered, how were they returned?

2. How much monies were missing? I understand it was about $14,000 EC. Others say is it is $9,000.

3. Can you confirm that the monies are in relation to monies recovered from the assailants in the armed robbery of the Mon Repos Credit Union in 2011?

4. I understand that a veteran officer (rank removed for legal reasons) is the one being investigated. Is this true?

5. Is it true that the monies were returned but with different serial numbers?

6. Is it true that the case file for this missing funds investigation has been sent to the DPP who will review the documents and decide whether charges will be filed?

7. Can the COP or the Police Department reiterate its commitment to rooting out corruption and be fair and honest with the press?

SNO had received several queries about the missing funds.

“Why haven’t we heard about the $14,000 which disappeared from the Vieux Fort station? Shouldn’t there be a criminal investigation even if the money was returned albeit bearing different serial numbers?” one source said.

“Tell us about the $14,000.00 exhibit in the case of robbery at the Mon Repos Credit Union,” another inquired.

This allegation comes to light three days after Alexander announced at a press conference that three officers were charged in connection with the disappearance of monies from the Richfond Police Station in Dennery in 2010. The missing funds were reportedly proceeds of maintenance and commitment warrants.

Martha Joseph.

A 13-year-old female from Morne Du Don/Agard in Castries, who was reported missing since 10 a.m. Thursday (June 4), has been found.

Martha Joseph, a student of the Entrepot Secondary School, was found by herself in Castries city by a cousin at around 4 p.m., the teen’s father, Timothy Joseph, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO).

Martha was taken into custody, questioned by police and released.

When asked why his daughter did not return home Thursday, Timothy said she hasn’t given him a reason as yet because the lawmen were interviewing her.

The teen was home with a cousin when she reportedly told the relative that she was going “up the road” and never returned home.

In an earlier interview, Timothy said this was the first time his daughter was missing.

An official report was made with the police Friday morning.

The crowd after the fight.

The Friday Gros Islet Street Party came to a halt Saturday morning around 1:20 after a “massive fight” broke out.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

One eyewitness alleged that police intervened about 10 to 15 minutes after the fight began.

“The crowd just spread opened… bottles were flying all over, but then the police intervened,” an eyewitness told St. Lucia News Online.

Another eyewitness said: “It was a massive fight, bottles were being thrown and people ran for cover, including tourists.”

Eyewitnesses reported seeing at least two males in the custody of the police, but it is not clear if they were held in connection with the brawl.

It is alleged that the fight occurred between rival gangsters.

A man was hospitalised on Saturday afternoon after he was beaten in Castries town, an eyewitness has alleged.

The man was allegedly involved in an altercation with another person who ended up beating him up.

The incident reportedly occurred near the Dennery bus stop at around 2:50 p.m.

An ambulance transported the man to hospital.

No further details are available.

Lambirds Academy students protesting on Friday (June 5).

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has put a hold on arrangements made to have stranded students of the Lambirds Academy scandal returned home.

This was communicated to the students on Sunday (June 7), by an IOM representative based in Trinidad and Tobago.

A group of about 12 students were expected to depart the island this morning. While the remaining students were expected to leave on given dates, later this month.

A meeting was held with the students during last week, where government officials and representatives from the IOM were present to tell them about the new arrangement.

Each of the students was promised that once the case is completed and their monies are recovered, it will be sent to them.

They were all issued statements/tickets by local police, which validates this agreement.

However, they were reminded by the officials, that the case could take a maximum of 10 years, or it could be completed in less than two years.

While some of the students are happy to return home after being stranded here for several months, others believe that once they do, they will not receive any justice and lose all their money.

A group of about 30 students staged a peaceful protest complete with placards in Constitution Park on Friday (June 5), to raise their concerns with regards to the case.

The academy’s Chief Executive Officer Iftekhar Shams is facing charges of more than 60 counts of money laundering and human trafficking. Shams and three others are accused of scamming the students.

The students are mainly from Nepal, India and the Philippines. They claimed that they each paid US$9, 000 for the courses and US$13,000 to get to St. Lucia, to undertake various courses.

However on arrival here, they were told by law enforcement authorities that they had been duped.

Mary Isaac. Photo credit: The Voice Newspaper (St. Lucia).

United Workers Party (UWP) Senator Mary Isaac has said she is deeply concerned about the well-being of the students stranded here as a result of the Lambirds Academy scandal and is urging government to take care of their needs.

Isaac, who along with UWP Party Leader Allen Chastanet and Opposition Leader Dr Gale Rigobert visited and held discussions with these students most recently, said it is troubling to see the condition under which they are living and how they are being treated.

The UWP senator strongly believes that something ought to be done to ensure that the students are not left to suffer any longer.

She also raised concerns about a pregnant female who is expected to deliver a baby on June 25.

“I am very concerned about the implications this may have for both countries,” she told St. Lucia News Online (SNO).

Isaac said one have to question if the child is born in Saint Lucia, whether he/she would require immigration documents to travel back home with the parent, or would the parent be able to take the child back.

The senator said she is opposed to having the pregnant student returned home soon, especially since her pregnancy is in an advanced stage.

“Are we taking a risk here and risking a human life?” she questioned.

Sources have said the government was allegedly attempting the send the pregnant student in the batch that was expected to return home today.

This was to avoid her having the baby on Saint Lucian soil, which will in fact complicate the matter, given that the student is a foreign national.

Meanwhile, Isaac pointed to scenarios where some of the students would have to wait on people to assist them with washing their clothes.

In other cases, some of them do not have any money and only have a few pieces of clothing that they brought with them.

Isaac said while the students are not objecting to returning home, they prefer to have their money first.

“I believe it is unfair for government to have frozen Shams (the CEO) assets whereas something can be put in place to make sure that the money goes to the students and that they can go back home,” she asserted.

The UWP senator said the students deserve to be treated fairly, because it could have been the other way around, where Saint Lucian students were in the same debacle, and no one would have wanted them to be treated in the same manner.

Scene of the shooting.

A man of unsound mind, who was allegedly armed with a cutlass and attacking members of the public and subsequently police oficers in Anse La Raye, was shot several times by the lawmen this afternoon, June 8.

Reports are that at around 4 p.m., the Anse La Raye Police Station responded to a report of a “suspected lunatic” armed with a cutlass and threatening/attacking persons in the community.

The man allegedly advanced with his cutlass when he was confronted by the police officers, who had no choice but to discharge several bean-bag rounds in his direction. A bean bag round, also known by its trademarked name flexible baton round, is a baton round fired as a shotgun shell, used for less lethal apprehension of suspects, according to Wikipedia.

However, according to several sources, this attempt by the police officers proved futile as the “lunatic” pursued the lawmen with the cutlass.

While trying to escape, it is reported that one of the officers sustained a “lash” on his leg with the cutlass.

As a result, one of the officers discharged a live round of ammunition in the direction of the man as a last resort.

The bullet hit the man in the waist area.

He was transported to hospital. He is believed to be in stable condition.

On Saturday, June 6, St. Lucia News Online (SNO) accurately and ‘safely’ reported on a “massive” fight that broke out during the popular Gros Islet Street Party in the town of Gros Islet.

The event was put to a premature end as a result of the fight that involved bottle-throwing.

In a press statement by Gros Islet officials today, June 9, they claimed the media reports were inaccurate, but strangely confirmed the details of the news reports.

In SNO’s report, it was accurately stated that:

1. A fight broke out (confirmed by the Gros Islet Constituency Council Management Committee – GICCMC)

2. The event came to a halt (confirmed by the GICCMC)

3. Two persons were taken by police (confirmed by GICCMC)

4. At no time did SNO state or insinuate that, A. criminal activities and violence in Gros Islet or at the street party have increased or B. that the fight is related to a shooting incident previously.

5. In fact, the town’s mayor was the one who made a statement in connection with the Gros Islet Street Party and the shooting incident by telling reporters in published interviews, that the Gros Islet Street Party would continue despite the shooting incident. As such, any  incident that would have occurred at the Street Party, after the shooting incident, would have made the news, especially at the fact that Friday’s brawl put an end to the party. In the past, fights took place without the party being called off.

What the GICCMC is refuting, and has used to paint an entire story as inaccurate:

1. That the fight was gang-related – SNO NEVER confirmed the incident was gang-related, neither did subsequent reports. The last line of the first story claimed, based on information from eyewitnesses and police sources that the fight “is ALLEGED” to have occurred between rival gangsters. Note the word ALLEGED. The media – regionally and internationally – uses this word ALL THE TIME to describe accounts from non-official sources to indicate that the information is not confirmed, but it was STATED. Does the GICCMC know what the word alleged means? Yes, they do.

2. Police response – An eyewitness ALLEGED that the police intervened 10-15 minutes AFTER – note the words ALLEGED and AFTER, AFTER AFTER – the fight. However the GICCMC claimed the incident “was immediately contained” – “despite reports to the contrary”. Numerous persons who were present can relate that during the fight and bottle throwing, the police was not IMMEDIATELY present in the CENTRE of it fight. The police intervened AFTER the fight as it related to NABBING the suspected individuals. In such a massive crowd, it would be difficult for the lawmen to arrest (while the fight in progress) because bottles were being thrown from either sides of the large crowd. It was after the incident that the police, after investigations, were able to nab two suspects. And based on reports received, other persons may have been involved. Was the police officers trying to arrest people while the fight was going on? Or did they rush to the scene when they persons running for cover? SNO was never specific.

What is factual as well?

It is nothing new. It is a KNOWN fact that there have been numerous incidents of fights and wounding incidents at the Street Party. It may not have occurred every week, but there have been numerous incidents of fights so ever often, at least once a month. In fact, SNO has a video of the incident related to last Friday.

Below is SNO’s initial report on the incident, followed by the save-face press release by the GICCMC, which could be termed misleading.

Fight disrupts Gros Islet Street Party: The Friday Gros Islet Street Party came to a halt Saturday morning around 1:20 after a “massive fight” broke out. There were no immediate reports of injuries. One eyewitness alleged that police intervened about 10 to 15 minutes after the fight began. “The crowd just spread opened… bottles were flying all over, but then the police intervened,” an eyewitness told St. Lucia News Online. Another eyewitness said: “It was a massive fight, bottles were being thrown and people ran for cover, including tourists.” Eyewitnesses reported seeing at least two males in the custody of the police, but it is not clear if they were held in connection with the brawl. It is alleged that the fight occurred between rival gangsters. – See more at: http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/fight-disrupts-gros-islet-street-party/#sthash.3BlU9Rfh.dpuf

GICCMC press release:

The Gros Islet Street Party is a staple of St. Lucian life and has come to be the preferred way to end the work week. It has successfully integrated tourists and locals in its weekly jubilation and features high on our “must do” lists when visiting Fair Helen.

The Gros Islet Constituency Council has set up a Management Committee for the event in collaboration with the SLHTA, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Gros Islet Vendors Association and other Stakeholders. This Committee is tasked with improving Safety and Security, Mass Crowd Event Guideline Compliance and the Development and Sustainability of the event.

In that regard, the Committee has been working assiduously to implement national and international standards to improve the weekly event which is now in its 30th year. It is most disheartening that this ordinarily uneventful party has recently been plagued by reports of criminal activity. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has demonstrated its support for the Gros Islet Street Party over the years by deploying additional personnel to ensure the safety of all patrons; and has continued to serve the community with distinction. Following inaccurate reports of a second gang related incident on Saturday 6th June, 2015, the Street Party Management Committee held an emergency meeting to address this alien, damaging crisis.

Despite reports to the contrary, the incident which was immediately contained by the police on the scene, involved only two individuals who were immediately detained. The decision of the Sargent on duty to terminate the event early was both prudent and consistent with her obligations to crowd safety.

The Street Party Management Committee recognizes that the weekly anticipated event does not simply belong to the people of Gros Islet but it is also an event of national importance, as a key component of our tourism product. It is imperative that reports which have a damaging effect on our major income earner be verified before publication and circulation.

* Not actual gun.

A .380 pistol was allegedly stolen from a female security guard employed with Secure Saint Lucia yesterday.

Reports are that a group of unidentified individuals allegedly took the gun from her pocket, while in the Castries Market area.

The incident is reported to have occurred at about 12:45 p.m.

The firearm that was stolen contained ten rounds of ammunition.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Blood stains indicating where the incident took place.

PRESS RELEASE - On Monday, June 8, 2015 about 4:40p.m officers attached to the Anse La Raye Police Station received to a report of an individual engaged in menacing conduct whilst armed with a cutlass along Bridge Street, Anse La Raye.

Two police officers responded and identified the individual as Norbert Cosine, a suspected lunatic.

In attempting to subdue Cosine, who remained armed, one police officer discharged three (3) non-lethal rounds (bean bags) in the direction of Cosine.

This action proved futile as Cosine continued his pursuit resulting in the officers being assaulted with the cutlass.

Consequently, one live round was discharged in his direction, hitting him in the waist region rendering him immobilized.

An ambulance was summoned and immediately transported Cosine to the Victoria Hospital where he was treated and detained in stable condition.

The police officers sustained minor wounds and welts about the body.

Investigations are continuing into this matter.

Bert Aubert. * Photo from Facebook

One of nine people arrested by police in connection with a series of burglaries recently in Micoud has been denied bail after making a court appearance yesterday (June 8).

Bert Aubert, 19, of Micoud is accused of being involved in several burglaries in Micoud village between late Monday (June 1) and early Tuesday (June 2). Police allegedly found several bags containing some of the stolen items in his possession.

The teen is scheduled to reappear in court on July 6.

A relative told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) this morning, June 9 that the teenager is currently at the Micoud Police Station, awaiting transfer to the Bordelais Correctional Facility.

Reports are that between Monday, June 1 at about 11 p.m. and Tuesday, June 2, at about 4 a.m., Wayne’s Bakery, owned by Wayne Providence, was broken into and items such as flour, sugar,  bread, lard, and butter were stolen.

The thieves unsuccessfully tried to break into Anto’s supermarket after a resident saw them and raised an alarm.

The crime spree led the criminals nearby to an unoccupied dwelling house from which clothing and electrical appliances were stolen. It is reported that the owner of Wayne’s Bakery, Providence, lives in the house, but he was off island at the time of the incident.

Investigations led police to search several houses located near the scene of the burglaries. During the search, some of the stolen items were recovered from one of the houses while a quantity of cannabis was discovered in another.

Police then arrested nine people, including eight teenagers as young as 15, and two females.

Aubert is the only one to have been charged in connection with the incidents. The other persons were released.

Aubert was charged for unlawfully possessing the stolen goods from the bakery and the house, as well as possession of cannabis in connection with the cannabis discovered in one of the houses. Some of the stolen items have yet to be recovered.

Aubert is reported to have been serving probation or a bond to keep the peace in connection with an altercation in which he allegedly wounded another male. He was initially on the run for several months before being caught.

“Black Jesus”

PRESS RELEASE - The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is soliciting the assistance of the public in identifying a next of kin of Justin Whyte also known as “Black Jesus” whose body was fished out of the Castries Harbor on Monday June 8, 2015.

Identification by police was made based on past and recent interactions with the individual.

An official identification by a next of kin is needed for advancing investigations in this matter.

MISSING: Alvin Tristan Andrew a.k.a Ita.

Almost five days after they were due to arrive in Saint Lucia, four men who are said to be Saint Lucians are still missing at sea.

The relatives of one of the men, 35-year-old Alvin Tristan Andrew, better known as “Ita” said that they are “worried sick” and are praying daily for him and his colleagues to reach safely.

Tristan’s cousin, Debbie Ann, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today (June 10) that her cousin was in Martinique for the past five months and was heading back home.

She said both Andrew’s mother and sister are citizens of Martinique and he would travel from time to time to the neighbouring French island.

However, this time around Andrew’s visit to Martinique was to seek medical care for a hamstring injury he sustained.

Debbie Ann said that Andrew’s 9-year-old daughter is anxious to see him.

She claims that an uncle had  received a telephone call from Andrew on the day he was suppose to arrive here, which he suspects was distress call, but it was disconnected.

Relatives said they find it strange that the boat did not arrive on time, or even on the weekend.

Since it has been close to one week already, they believe that something might be dangerously wrong.

Searches have been conducted in both the Rodney Bay and Marigot area by Marine Police officials but the officers came up empty-handed.

The official said that Martinique Marine Police officials also deployed an aircraft on Friday and Saturday to look for the vessel but there was no sighting.

The men left Martinique with a pirogue powered by a 150-horse power Yamaha engine and had three passengers: Rudolph, Kurt Richard and Andrew and the captain Wilfred Deterville, from Dennery.

They left on Friday (June 5) at about 4 a.m. and was expected to arrive in St. Lucia before noon.

When contacted this morning, the Saint Lucia Marine Unit said there have been no new developments and the search will continue for the missing men.

National Security Minister Victor La Corbiniere.

National Security Minister Victor La Corbiniere has admitted that there is some level of corruption within the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) and said he is committed to having them weeded out.

La Corbiniere said while this may be the case for some officers, the RSLPF is a good institution and has people who on the other hand are committed to serving their country.

The minister’s comments comes in light of reports that three police officers were recently charged for financial irregularities unearthed at the Richfond Police Station.

La Corbiniere said he will not interfere with the investigations, but noted his commitment in fighting corruption at all levels to reduce the chances of it getting out of control.

The three police officers were formally charged in connection with the disappearance of approximately $4,000 from the Richfond Police Station in Dennery in 2010.

The missing funds are monies from maintenance and commitment warrants.

One officer who was charged with false attestation, could serve a maximum of two years behind bars if convicted.

A female security guard whose service handgun was snatched from her pocket on Monday has been suspended until further notice, a source has confirmed.

The female security guard (name withheld) had a .380 pistol allegedly stolen from her, while in the vicinity of the Castries Market area.

The firearm contained 10 rounds of ammunition.

The source said the female guard, who is employed by Secure Saint Lucia, has been carrying the gun in her pocket for several years because she had a faulty holster.

The guard was initially working in Dennery and was later transferred to Castries and issued the firearm in July of 2012.

The source said when she received the gun, she was also given the faulty holster “that they tacked with a galvanised nail.”

According to the source, the guard had requested another holster, but every time she made a request, she was told to fix it instead.

Only three months ago, the source said the guard requested a new holster again, and was told the same thing.

Apart from that, St. Lucia News Online (SNO) understands that the guard was allegedly given a loaded handgun in 2014 when the trigger went off and she sustained a gunshot to the thigh.

She was given $250 as compensation, the source added.

Attempts to speak with the manager of Secure Saint Lucia proved futile.

The management of Kairi FM has filed an official report with the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLFP) over the disappearance of one of its advertising banners.

Operations Manager Esther Moonie told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today, June 10 that the banner was located on the wall opposite the Courts Saint Lucia Marisule store.

Moonie said the banner cost $4,500 and was placed there in July 2014. The banner was last seen during the last week of May.

Asked whether she thinks the banner may have fallen off the wall and subsequently removed, Moonie said she doubts that happened, especially since it was properly attached to the wall.

“The way the wall is located, they have a multitude of other banners there, so there is no reason why ours should just fall off and everybody own is stays there,” she added.

The operations manager said she does not want to speculate whether it was vandalised or stolen, but will allow the police to do their investigation.

Alfred Mark

PRESS RELEASE - On Tuesday, June 9, 2015, Paulina Ryan of Marigot made a missing persons report to officers of the Marigot Police Station.

Ryan indicated that her uncle, 52 year old, Alfred Mark also of Bocage was last seen on Thursday, June 4, 2015 about 10:00 a.m. in Marigot.

Alfred Mark was last seen wearing a pair of blue ¾ jeans pants, tee shirt, pair of glasses shades with a red frame and a black cap.

Members of the public with any information on the whereabouts of Alfred Mark should contact the Marigot Police Station at telephone number 456-3895.

Alfred Mark

A 52-year-old man who was reported missing after he was last seen on June 4, has returned home.

Relatives told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that Alred Mark, originally from Bocage, arrived at the Marigot beach on a small boat, at about 6:30 p.m. today, June 11.

According to relatives, Mark said he was in Martinique but had not told anyone about his whereabouts.

Relatives told SNO that it is unusual for Mark, who normally sells items on the beach, to go to Martinique without telling anyone. They say this was the first time he was reported missing.

The minibus involved in the accident.

Police have arrested a suspect in the recent hit-and-run accident of a police officer.

The man, who is said to be well-known to police, was arrested at around 2:30 p.m near the La Resource bus stop in Vieux Fort.

Noel Joseph (Police Constable 158) was hit by a red Mazda minibus (PJ3487), at about 9 a.m Friday, June 5, driven by the alleged suspect.

He was hopitalised with minor injuries. Joseph is a 17-year veteran of the police force.

Reports are that Joseph, who was in uniform, was walking in the direction of Victoria Hospital, near the ‘overpass’, when he was hit by the bus.

The privately-operated bus did not stop. Minutes later, investigations led police officers near a business place in Castries called Bandag where the bus was discovered – without the driver.

A police corporal is counting his losses after his Green View, Morne Du Don home was break and entered on Friday, June 12.

Officer Martin James told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today (June 13) that he made the discovery at about 9:00 p.m. Friday. The officer and his family had left their home around 7:45 a.m.

James said when he entered his home, he realised that the entire house was ransacked and several items were missing, including several pieces of jewelry, two television sets and a new audio system, among other items.

While the officer cannot put a total cost on his losses, he said the jewellery  - compiled by him and his wife for over 20 years – is the most expensive.

James told SNO that the police later discovered that the bandits made their way in through a partially opened window which is located in the upper flat of his home.

The officer said the window always had a lock, but on this occasion it was left partially opened.

James believes however that the bandits may have been monitoring him and his family to know exactly when to hit his home.

The officer said his family is devastated by the entire incident.

He has been living in the house for over 13 years.

James is appealing to anyone who might have information about the persons responsible for the burglary, or who may come across the stolen items, to contact him on 727-2855 or the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on 456-3758.

He said the majority of the jewels carry the initials MAT or LAT.