A survivor of child molestation and rape speaks out on her ordeal.

The now 30-something-year-old woman recounted her story to Speak Out St. Lucia in an exclusive interview on March 30, 2016.

The victim, with her voice masked to protect her identity, said that the abuse started when she was between 7 and 8.

She said that the initial abuse started when men used to visit her mom’s house when she (her mother) was away, this later got worse when she was sent to live with the father of her siblings whom she said was a drug addicted.

She said the man would wake up early in the mornings and fondle her in her sleep.

She recounted several cases of being raped, one of which lead to her getting pregnant in secondary school.

The full video is below:

Note: The audio may contain material that is disturbing to some listeners.

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PRESS RELEASE – On Tuesday, March 29, 2016 police formally charged 30 year old, Charles Justin also known as “Stanley” of Plateau, Babonneau for the offence of Murder.

The following day, police also formally charged 28 year old, Neil Wilson also known as “Jerry” of the same address for the offence of Murder.

They were charged in connection with the death of Dean Monlouis of La Guerre, Babonneau who was discovered in a shallow grave on Thursday, March 24, 2016 in Plateau Babonneau.

The defendants made a court appearance before the First District Court on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 where they were remanded until April 28, 2016.

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Severin Monchery

PRESS RELEASE – Minister for Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and National Security Senator the Honourable Victor Philip La Corbiniere extends congratulations to the new Commissioner of Police Mr. Severin Monchery on his appointment.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security, he says, is looking forward to continuing to provide support to the Royal St. Lucia Police Force.

Police Commissioner Mr. Severin Monchery officially takes up his appointment today, Friday April, 1, 2016.

Mr. Monchery was enlisted in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force in 1985 and has worked in many departments of the organization during his 31-year tenure in law enforcement.

The minister extends his best wishes to all the newly appointed Assistant Commissioners of Police and also expresses his thanks and appreciation to Mr. Errol Alexander during his stint as acting Commissioner of Police.

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PRESS RELEASE – This Sunday, April 3 on Police Insight we shall be educating the public on being safe during any sea voyage. In the past couple months we have had a few persons loosing their lives at sea.

Not all circumstances are the same but we shall endeavor to enlighten you on being extra cautious whilst at sea or near the sea.

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A man was discovered earlier this morning suffering from stab wounds to his body near the Gros Islet bus park.

The man, whose given name was Jonathan Felix, was rushed to the hospital where he later died.

He was 56 years old.

He is believed to be a resident of Conway.

A suspect has been allegedly held in connection with the stabbing of the man.

Reports are that the suspect, whose name has not been released, is currently assisting the police with their investigation.

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30. ARREST WITH OR WITHOUT PROCESS FOR CRIME

(1) A person may—

(a) with or without warrant or other legal process, arrest and detain another person whom he or she knows to have committed an indictable offence;

(b) if the other person, having notice or knowing that he or she is accused of an indictable offence (rape, burglary, grievous harm etc.) , avoids arrest by resistance or flight or escapes or endeavors to escape from custody,

-use any force which is necessary for the arrest, detention or recapture, and may kill that other person if that other person cannot otherwise be arrested, detained, or retaken by any other means.

34. REASONABLE USE OF FORCE IN SELF-DEFENCE

A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances—

(a) to prevent crime;

(b) to protect himself or herself or another person from injury;

(c) to protect himself or herself or another person (with his or her authority) from trespass to himself or herself or the other person;

(d) to protect from injury or damage his or her property or property belonging to another person with that person’s authority.

36. FORCE TO REPEL TRESPASSER

A person in actual possession of a house, land or vessel, or goods, or any other person authorized by him or her, may use the force reasonable in the circumstances as is necessary for the purpose of resisting a person who attempts forcibly and unlawfully to enter such house, land or vessel, or to take possession of the goods.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LAW MAKES PROVISION FOR SELF DEFENCE HOWEVER AN INVESTIGATION MUST BE CONDUCTED TO PROVE THAT YOUR ACTIONS WERE JUSTIFIED AND WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE LAW.

VIGILANTE JUSTICE (THE ACT OF TAKING THE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS) IS ILLEGAL. YOU CANNOT FIGHT CRIME BY COMMITTING A CRIME.

We at the Royal Saint Lucia Police force encourage the citizenry to read and study the laws which governs our society. Never forget that knowledge is power.

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RSLPF – Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Jonathan Keenan Felix also known as “Jaws” of San Souci, Castries.

According to reports, Felix was escorted to the Victoria Hospital after he was allegedly stabbed in the chest by a known assailant on Sunday, April 3, 2016 about 12:50 p.m. between Darling Road and Jn. Baptiste Street, Castries.

Felix succumbed to his injuries whilst receiving treatment. An individual is in custody assisting with investigations.

This is the ninth homicide for 2016.

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A woman who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend in Dugard, Micoud may have been strangled over a cellphone.

She has been identified as Jenifer Edwin, a mother of two, who is in her early 20’s.

The incident is reported to have occurred on Monday around 9 p.m.

Reports are that the woman and her boyfriend were arguing over a cellphone, which later led to her demise.

It has been reported that a female relative of the deceased said she heard the couple quarreling over a phone and minutes later, Edwin, was found dead on the floor of her bedroom.

The relative said she heard her asking her boyfriend to let go of her neck.

The couple are known to have heated arguments, the relative claims.

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CMC – Opposition Leader Dr Gale Rigobert says the ruling St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) should do more to curb rapes, a spate of which has been occurring here.

Among the ways in which the Government can intervene, according to Rigobert, are the reopening of the forensic laboratory, equipping the police, and implementing protocols at the various health centres and hospitals to deal with victims of rape to preserve their privacy and dignity.

“These are very tangible fixes to the problem,” she explained, adding that they did not represent the sum total of measures that can be taken.

The Micoud North member of parliament raised questions about the number of rape victims who have received counselling after their ordeal.

She appealed to victims and their families, who can muster the courage, to begin to share their stories.

“Too many people are still dealing with this as a passing news item, as an ugly news item, while this is a life-changing experience,” the opposition leader said.

So far this year there have been close to a dozen incidents of rape, and police authorities say this may only be those that have been reported.

Meanwhile, St Lucia’s new Police Commissioner Severin Moncherry has urged rape victims to come out and report the matter.

“It is only by reporting the matter that we can bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Moncherry, who took over as police commissioner on Friday.

Moncherry also disclosed plans for a support team to assist rape victims.

The measure has been criticised as a duplication of the work intended for the Vulnerable Persons Unit (VPU) of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

The unit investigates crimes of rape and sexual assault.

Moncherry said he believes that the VPU is doing a “marvelous” job.

“What we are looking to do is to create a new team that will assist them, and what we are putting in place is more of a patrol-type team to assist in prevention and detection; so we are not saying that the Vulnerable Persons Unit is not working; I am satisfied with the work they are doing, but we need to build on it,” he said.

Responding to suggestions that people could increasingly take the law into their own hands because of the perceived slow pace of justice, Moncherry asserted that there was need to make a distinction between self-defense and vigilante justice.

He said that vigilante justice entails taking the law into one’s own hands and not seeking assistance from the police.

Nevertheless the police commissioner said that every citizen has the right to defend himself, his property or other people.

He said citizens need to understand the distinction between defending themselves and meting out vigilante justice.

The issue of vigilante justice has arisen on the heels of a spate of rapes in various parts of the country, resulting in some women vowing to arm themselves and take matters into their own hands if they are targeted.

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PRESS RELEASE – Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 20 year old, Jennifer Edwin of Dugard, Micoud.

According to reports, on Monday, April 04, 2016 about 9:35 p.m. Edwin was discovered unconscious on the ground in Dugard, Micoud.

She was escorted to the St. Jude Hospital where she was pronounced dead by a medical doctor.

A post mortem has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 05, 2016.

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PRESS RELEASE – On Tuesday, April 5, 2016 a post mortem was conducted on the body of 20 year old, Jennifer Edwin of Dugard, Micoud.

The examination revealed that she died as a result of sudden cardiac death (unexpected death caused by loss of heart function).

Investigations continue into this matter.

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338. FALSE COUNT OR RETURN OF VOTES AS TO ELECTION

A person who, being a public officer charged with the counting of votes or the making of a return at any public election, wilfully falsifies the account of such vote or makes a false return is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for 10 years.

“We, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force would like to encourage the citizenry to read and study the laws which governs our society. Never forget that knowledge is power”.

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Thieves broke into the Courts Chaussee Road branch between last night and this morning and made off with laptops and flat screen televisions, according to sources.

CCTV cameras reportedly captured the break-in, which occurred from one of the show windows. It is estimated that about a dozen masked bandits were involved in the crime.

One of the sources told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the alarm was triggered by the break-in but the thieves, helped by their large numbers, were able to do their crime quickly.

This is the second time in four weeks this Courts store have been compromised by criminals.

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* Not the actual stolen item.

Police have recovered several items that were stolen from Courts Castries branch store.

A team conducted a search at Wilton’s yard where they found several laptops and flat screen televisions.

No one has been arrested so far.

Thieves broke into the store between last night and this morning and made off with laptops and flat screen televisions, according to sources.

CCTV cameras reportedly captured the break-in, which occurred from one of the show windows. It is estimated that about a dozen masked bandits were involved in the crime.

The store was robbed about three weeks ago.

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Bordelais Correctional Facility

The Correctional Services Association has put their employer on notice that if they do not address transportation issues within 14 days, they will be forced to take action against them.

Vice President of the association, Clinton Edward, has been reported in the media as saying that there is no proper transportation for correctional officers.

Edward said while the Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF) is mandated to provide transportation for its employees, the current buses are in bad condition and continues to break down.

The association official recalled that a bus carrying a full load of employees to the BCF broke, down in Praslin. The association sees this as a serious threat to their members.

Edward said the matter was brought to the attention of the management of BCF, but nothing has been done to address the issue. Instead, they have been transporting employees in vehicles made for prisoners.

The association said the issue has been an ongoing for years and they thought it would have been addressed when a new director was appointed, in the person of Vern Guarde. However, to date the employees are still faced with this same issue week after week.

Edward said the association will have no choice but to take action against the BCF management, if nothing is done immediately to address this dire situation.

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A middle-aged man became the latest victim of an armed robbery on Wednesday, as gunmen held him up in broad daylight and made off with his vehicle in Vieux-Fort.

According to reports, the masked men who were armed with a firearm and cutlasses, attacked the victim at approximately 1:45 p.m. in the vicinity of La Tourney Mall.

Information reaching this publication indicates that the man was robbed of all his valuables and later driven by the armed men to a beach nearby, where they proceeded to assault him before tying him to a tree.

The man then managed to free himself four hours later, and reported the incident to the police.

Upon investigations the abandoned vehicle was later recovered at an old runway in Vieux-Fort.

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Police are investigating an incident where a seven-year-old boy from Babonneau was allegedly attacked by a 15-year-old male, which caused him to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Victoria Hospital.

Reports are that older male, made what relatives describe as an “indecent proposal” to the younger male, and the latter promised that he would tell his mother.

In an effort to stop him from doing so, the older male proceeded to allegedly attack the seven-year-old, by lashing him several times to the head with the use of a wood.

Relatives of the young male are upset with the situation and have since reported it to the police.

The police confirmed that the matter is being investigated.

No further details are available at this time.

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PRESS RELEASE – Crime Prevention Tips is a production of the Press Office of the Royal St Lucia Police Force.

Crime prevention means being aware of your environment and remaining alert to situations that could make you vulnerable to crime. We cannot list specific measures that will protect you from every threatening situation, which may arise.

Instead, we hope to teach you how to think “Crime Prevention” in day-to-day living

“Rape”

Rapists are not always strangers or anonymous attackers. When someone you know – a date, steady boyfriend, casual friend or partner – forces you to have sex it is rape.

According to section 123 of the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia 2008

1) Any person who has sexual intercourse with another—

(a) without the consent of that other; or

(b) without believing that the other consents to such intercourse or is reckless as to whether the other person consents or not, commits the offence of rape

Here are some tips which can lessen your chance of being raped.

1. Do not let alcohol or other drugs decrease or interfere with your ability to take care of yourself and make sensible decisions.
2. Do not accept beverages from someone you don’t know and trust and even if it is from someone you know, always watch your drink and never leave it unattended, at any time.
3. Follow your instincts. If a place or the way your date acts makes you nervous or uneasy, get out. If you need to call a friend to escort you home, don’t hesitate to do so.
4. Do a background check on a first date or a blind date with friends or family. Meet in and go to public places.
5. Don’t leave a social event with someone you have just met or don’t know well.
6. Make use of technology; send details about your date or details about their vehicle to a friend via your smartphone. Sending a picture of your date or their vehicle would really assist with investigations if you do become a victim of rape.
7. Ensure you have enough cash to call a taxi, or, better yet, if you own one, take your own car.
8. Don’t accept ride from strangers and if you do accept a ride from anyone, communicate their description and vehicle description to another individual using your phone.
9. When alone at home, always ensure your entry doors are closed and locked.
10. When responding to a knock or call to your door, ensure that the individual is known to you before opening and if you are not sure, call the police.
11. Entry doors should be fitted with devices which can allow you to see the outside without opening the door (a door scope or peep hole).
12. Enroll in self-defense classes.
13. Employers should have regular briefings with their female staff concerning safety in travelling to and from work.
14. MEN NEED TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT NO MEANS NO.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force will do all in its power to investigate and bring to justice, these perpetrators of rape.

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PRESS RELEASE – In light of the recent spate of rape and other sexual assaults in Saint Lucia, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has initiated special measures to tackle these sex crimes. The RSLPF highly condemns those inhumane, barbaric and reprehensible acts which are vicious violations of some of the basic fundamental rights of our men and women.

The RSLPF will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the protection and safety of our men and women, by putting measures in place to reduce or prevent such brutal and uncivilized attacks and to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice.

In this vein, the RSLPF has put in place among other measures a specially dedicated team to complement the overwhelmed Vulnerable Persons Team. The duties of this newly formed team will include surveillance and Intel driven patrols aimed at reducing incidents of rape and apprehension of perpetrators of such crimes.

The RSLPF takes this opportunity to reassure the general public that it continues to be committed to fight crime and social disorder in Saint Lucia. The RSLPF will do everything within the confines of the Law to ensure the safety of all people in Saint Lucia.

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A woman was allegedly chopped on her forehead at Piaye, on Friday evening, by her common-law husband.

A police official confirmed that the incident took place around 7 p.m. (April 8).

St. Lucia News Online (SNO) understands that the woman is in her 50’s.

The man claims that the woman is mentally ill and that she took a cutlass and chopped herself.

He was arrested by police and is currently being held at the Laborie Police Station.

The woman is currently receiving treatment at hospital.

Investigations are ongoing.

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