Rachid Rafaa

Police in neighbouring Martinique are searching for a suspected Jihadist who is linked to al-Qaida leaders and helps them to spread their message via the internet.

The man identified as Rachid Rafaa, 40, has been under house arrest in Morne-Rouge, Martinique since May 15, 2014, but evaded authorities on Wednesday morning.

News agencies there have reported that Rafaa is of Moroccan descent  who is said to be linked to a senior member of the Islamist militant organization which aims to overthrow the government in Algeria.

He was arrested back in 2009 after it was found that he used his computer skills to disseminate information on the internet on the group’s behalf.

He has denied having any connection to the jihadist movement and had said he thinks he is being targeted because of his support for the cause of Western Sahara.

Rafaa claims he was subject to torture for 20 days in his home country, which led him to flee to France.

Martinique officials said he was awaiting extradition back to his home country and could be anywhere at this point.

A search is now underway for him and the police there have issued a warning on social media of the matter. They told residents to call the authorities if Rafaa is seen and should not attempt to intervene as he is considered dangerous.

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Rachid Rafaa

Local police have been put on high alert after an alleged jihadist from Morocco escaped house arrest in neighbouring Martinique on Wednesday and remains on the run.

Police officials here are currently being briefed on the case and will activate various strategies to reduce the chances of having the escaped prisoner enter Saint Lucia.

However, police have admitted that the borders here are very porous and every precaution must be taken to protect the country and its citizens from danger.

Rachid Rafaa, from Morocco, is said to be linked to a senior member of the Islamist militant organization which aims to overthrow the government in Algeria.

It is reported that Rafaa used his computer skills to disseminate information on the internet on behalf of al-Queda in Islamic Maghgreb.

He was arrested in France and transferred to Martinique after the European Court of Human Rights decided not to extradite him to Morocco for fear he may be tortured.

He has been under house arrest in Morne Rouge since May 2014.

The police in Martinique have issued a warning on social media of the matter. They told residents to call the authorities if Rafaa is seen and should not attempt to intervene as he is considered dangerous.

According to French media reports, Rafaa is 40 years old, very thin, has an oval-shaped face with black eyes, brown wavy hair.

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Mayers

CMC — Former national security minister Guy Mayers says it is important for Caribbean countries to collaborate on security matters after a 40-year-old man from Morocco, said to be linked to a senior member of the Islamist militant organization, al – Qaeda, escaped from the French Caribbean island of Martinique earlier this week.

“That is where the Regional Security System comes into play so that they can assist in making sure that even as people move from one island to the other under the cover of darkness to conduct their crimes, information sharing becomes critical,” Mayers told reporters.

Media reports said that Rachid Rafaa, was under house arrest in Morne Rouge, before disappearing on Wednesday.

The French police have issued a warning on social media, urging residents to call the authorities if Rafaa is seen. They have also asked the public to refrain from intervening, as he is considered dangerous.

It is reported that Rafaa used his computer skills to disseminate information on the internet on the behalf of al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb.

He was arrested in France and transferred to Martinique after the European Court of Human Rights decided not to extradite him to Morocco for fear he may be tortured.

He has been under house arrest in Morne Rouge since May 2014.

Mayers told reporters that the borders of the islands are porous and that persons can easily slip from one Island to the next.

“Because of our porous borders, a person can land in one of the Islands and take a small ferry to St Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and in one day – overnight, they can move from one Island to the other very quickly without any restriction,” he added.

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PRESS RELEASE – The public is advised that 22 year old Gina Lima of Independence City, Castries was found at Water Works Road by relatives on Monday, July 25, 2016.

Lima was found in good health and is presently with relatives.

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A sea turtle was found slaughtered this morning on Vigie beach, Castries.

The female hawksbill measuring about 35 inches was discovered around 10:30 a.m.

It is suspected that the turtle was nesting when it was killed.

On Tuesday, June 14 another nesting hawksbill sea turtle was also slaughtered in Vieux Fort.

The Department of Fisheries had issued a statement in April, informing the public of the sea turtle nesting period which started from March 1 and ends on November 30, 2016.

The department had warned persons not to interfere with them, emphasizing that anyone found in possession of sea turtle meat or eggs is liable to a maximum of fine EC$5000.

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PRESS RELEASE – The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is urging citizens to ensure that their farm animals or pets are kept in a safe location.

According to section 26 of the Animal Act of Saint Lucia 2008, the police have the authority to seize any animal found wandering on the highway or public place.

The Act goes on to authorize the police to shoot or immobilize any animal which cannot be seized or which poses an immediate threat to public safety.

The owner of an animal who allows it to stray is liable on summary conviction to a fine of EC$5000.00 or imprisonment of two (2) years or both.

Failure by owners to ensure that their animals are kept tied or enclosed in a safe location shall cause the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force to do all in its power to curb on the incidents of stray animals.

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Police Commissioner Severein Moncherry.

Amid concerns that the new national security minister is allegedly attempting to influence decisions in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), the island’s top cop, Severin Moncherry, has given his commitment to ensuring that there is no political interference in the Force.

Mocherry told a meeting attended by senior police officers on Wednesday (August 3) at the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School that he will ensure that this does not happen.

The top cop statement was well received as officers attending that meeting applauded Moncherry who made the statement in front of the minister, Hermangild Francis, who was also present for that meeting.

Francis has however denied interfering with work of the Force stating that he has been performing his ministerial duties and nothing more.

There have been concerns that the minister, a former deputy police chief, is trying to allegedly micro-manage the Force and influence the promotion process.

But Francis said as minister he has only offered his advice to the police commissioner and the senior management team of the Force, based on his own views.

He said persons who deserve promotions are those who are working towards making the Force better.

Francis had told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) in late June that members of the Force are taking advantage of the regulation in relation to promotions.

The regulation states that if an officer acquires a degree or any higher education certificate, he may be eligible for promotion.

“Some persons have catapulted above others and so quickly that it is causing disaffection in the Force,” Francis had said.

The minister had promised to ensure that there is a balance in the system and stated his plans to meet with stakeholders to review the current regulation.

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One person has been taken into police custody following Thursday’s shooting in ‘Chinatown,’ Marigot.

Head of the Police Press Relations, Assistant Superintendent, Gregory Alexander confirmed this with St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Friday, stating that investigations are continuing.

The victim has been identified as Herbie Emmanuel, alias ‘Teflon’ of Marigot.

The 27-year-old man was reportedly shot on the balcony of his home around 9.p.m. Thursday.

He sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body and was rushed to Victoria Hospital.

SNO understands that Emmanuel underwent surgery on Thursday evening and is in a serious but stable condition.

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A 29-year-old Canadian woman has expressed a desire to marry a man who is now serving a seven-year prison sentence and is facing deportation back to Saint Lucia for sexually abusing her daughter.

The Toronto Sun has reported that the woman disclosed this information to a probation officer,and still questions whether the assault occurred although medical tests confirm her daughter suffered a vaginal injury.

The accused has also pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and two child pornography charges.

The woman who cannot be named, was found guilty of failing to provide the necessaries of life and criminal negligence causing bodily harm for knowing that her live-in boyfriend was sexually abusing her child since 2013 and doing nothing about it before the girl divulged it in Feb. 2014.

The girl was eight-years-old and nine-years-old when the mother caught the man in a bedroom with her daughter and the victim said she performed oral sex on the boyfriend and he apologized, the Toronto Sun reported.

The court heard that the Saint Lucian man who is has two children of his own, groomed his eight-year-old stepdaughter by exposing her to adult porn videos and later forcing her to perform those sex acts.

He also photographed her genitals with his cellphone, all for his perverse pleasure, according to an agreed statement of facts at his sentencing hearing.

The Toronto Sun said the court also heard that the accused bribed the girl with small gifts and threatened her with groundings and painful spankings if she revealed the abuse.

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Two men were shot dead in Vieux Fort by unknown assailants early this morning.

The men, who are still unidentified, were killed in Bruceville.

Residents reported hearing gunshots and alerted the police.

The bodies of the men were found in the area.

This is the second double homicide in Vieux Fort in just over two weeks.

More info to come.

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Junior Gilbert and Miguel Theodore were killed on July 23

Residents of Vieux Fort woke up  to find out that two persons were killed in the district early this morning.

The two men, who are still unidentified, brings the tally of murder victims to 4 in just two weeks in the area. These are also the first and second double murders in St. Lucia this year which highlights the growing problem of crime in St. Lucia on a whole.

On August 1 Canada issued a travel warning to nationals visiting St. Lucia. The warning read:

“Muggings have occurred in areas frequented by tourists. Avoid showing signs of affluence, carry minimal sums of money and leave your passport and other valuables in your hotel safe,” the advisory stated.

Despite the warning by the Canadian Government, no attack on tourists have been recorded this year and tourists rarely faces any sort of violence in St. Lucia. Murders, robberies and other forms of crime are normally aimed at fellow St. Lucias. This brings us back to the case of the double murders and their possible ties to each other.

Persons familiar with the area have spoken of possible reprisals after the killing of Junior Gilbert and Miguel Theodore on July 23. These often form the basis for killings and gun violence in around troubled areas throughout St. Lucia.

If anything, these double murders are a reminder of growing social ills that need to be rectified before they get out of control.

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Authorities have identified the victims of a double homicide in Bruceville, Vieux Fort.

The victims are: Trent Travis Eugene, alias ‘Jupin’ of Banse Laborie and Clint Felix, alias ‘Black Boy’ of Micoud.

Sources said one of the two men sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and the other to the head.

Both bodies were discovered in Faith Park early Saturday morning, following a series of gunshots in the area.

It is being speculated that this latest homicide might be a possible reprisal following a previous double homicide on July 23 in Vieux Fort, which is likely to continue.

Police investigation continues into both double homicides.

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Minsiter Sarah Flood-Beaubrun

Saint Lucia is still a safe destination for tourists, Castries Central Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Flood-Beaubrun has said, in light of the Canadian government’s upgraded travel advisory for Saint Lucia.

Flood-Beaubrun said while Saint Lucia should be concerned about the new advisory, it is not something to be too alarmed about and so out of control that it cannot be addressed.

“It is of course a fact that from time to time incidents may occur but I think it is really important to state that Saint Lucia is still a safe destination for tourists,” she told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Monday.

The advisory which was updated on August 1, 2016  is warning Canadians travelling here to avoid places like: Marchand, Broglie Street, Grass Street, Leslie Land, and Wilton’s Yard, located off of Chausee Road, because of high rates of crime in those areas.

These are all areas within the Castries basin and falls within the Castries Central constituency.

The advisory is also warning its citizens of limited medical resources, generally poor road conditions, and unreliable public transportation in Saint Lucia.

But the Castries Central MP told SNO that these are general issues, which are being looked into.

“We know we do have issues in Castries Central and these matters are being addressed. But I think it is important that tourists take the usual precautions that they do when you go everywhere else,” she added.

The Canadian government is warning its nationals to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to Saint Lucia due to moderate crime rates.

It said muggings have occurred in areas frequented by tourists and has advised its citizens to avoid showing signs of affluence, carry minimal sums of money and leave their passport and other valuables in their hotels safe.

Canadian tourists have also been urged to avoid unpopulated areas and unpatrolled beaches, especially after dark, and avoid staying in hotels or villas in isolated areas, which may have inadequate security.

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Police are investigating two separate cutlass attacks that happened in less than 24 hours.

Reports are that a young male was attacked and robbed of his laptop computer on Monday around 9.p.m. at Blue Coral Mall in Castries.

The unidentified male who was attacked by three males, suffered a chop wound close to his knee.

He was taken to hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, a man identified as David Sonson was reportedly attacked by two men around 1.a.m. Tuesday in Sarrot.

It is not clear what injuries he suffered during the attack, but reports are that he was rushed to hospital for treatment.

Investigation into both incidents are ongoing.

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The semi-nude body of a man was discovered on the Dennery seashore around 2.p.m. Monday.

The body has been identified as Shandon Thomas, 37, of Dennery Village.

It is not clear what led to his demise, but police are treating the case as a suspected drowning.

A post-mortem examination is expected soon.

No further details available at this time.

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Persons in Vieux Fort are fearful that reprisals will continue in light of two recent double homicides in the last month and are hopeful that the police can return safety to the area, particularly Bruceville.

St. Lucia News Online (SNO) made contact with National Security Minister Hermangild Francis for a comment on Tuesday, who had little to say except that the the matter is being pursued by the police.

“I just know that the police is working assiduously to get information as to what is happening and they will be responding in an appropriate way,” Francis told SNO.

The minister said he would encourage citizens if they have any information, to pass it on to the police, so that the police can formulate a plan to crack down on the criminals responsible for these homicides.

Top cop Severin Moncherry is reported in the media as saying that he will not allow this to continue and vowed to ensure that the Force does all it can to get to the bottom of these incidents.

Moncherry is also urging persons who do not feel safe disclosing key information, to confide in him, any senior police officer or any responsible citizen who can pass that information on to the police.

Two men were discovered dead in Bruceville, Vieux Fort on Saturday, August 6.

The victims were identified as: Trent Travis Eugene, alias ‘Jupin’ of Banse Laborie and Clint Felix, alias ‘Black Boy’ of Micoud.

One of the two men sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and the other to the head.

Both bodies were discovered in Faith Park, following a series of gunshots in the area.

On Saturday, July 23, two other men were executed in the same area.

The men, identified as Junior Gilbert and Miguel Theodore were found with gunshot wounds at Bruceville in Vieux Fort.

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One of the bodies found on Saturday in Bruceville, Vieux Fort.

Police are questioning a person of interest in the double homicide of two men whose bodies were found in Bruceville, Vieux Fort on Saturday.

The person was taken into police custody around 1.p.m. Tuesday, Head of the Police Press Relations, Assistant Superintendent, Gregory Alexander told St. Lucia News Online (SNO).

Alexander said it is not clear whether he is one of the shooter(s) but he will be questioned about the incident.

More persons are likely to be called in for questioning as investigation intensifies.

Trent Travis Eugene, alias ‘Jupin’ of Banse Laborie and Clint Felix, alias ‘Black Boy’ of Micoud were discovered dead in Bruceville, Vieux Fort on Saturday, August 6.

One of the two men sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and the other to the head.

Police have been urging members of the public to come forward with any information that they might have about this incident and promised to treat keep it strict confidence.

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A post-mortem examination has confirmed that Shandon Thomas, 37, of of La Pointe, Dennery died by drowning.

Thomas’ semi-nude body was discovered on the Dennery seashore around 2.p.m. Monday.

Thomas, a fisherman, had a past medical history of seizures and was considered an alcoholic.

Police were treating the case as a suspected drowning.

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Education Minister Dr. Gale Rigobert

Education Minister Dr. Gale Rigobert has confirmed that an investigation into the alleged misconduct of a school principal of a city secondary school is currently underway.

The principal has been accused of behaving inappropriately towards his female teenage students, HTS NewForce reported on Wednesday evening.

Based on the sensitive nature of this case, the name of the principal and the alleged victims cannot be disclosed.

It has been reported that the principal was allegedly engaged in sending inappropriate text messages and acted inappropriately around the female students.

But the minister said while the matter was brought to her attention and is currently being investigated, no one should rush to cast any judgement unless they have facts.

“One should not rush to judgement pending the outcome of the investigation,” she stated.

Dr. Rigobert said while in opposition and even now in government she has made it clear that she will not accept this kind of behaviour, as she has zero tolerance for teacher misconduct.

If the principal is found culpable of these wrongdoings, the matter could be forwarded to law enforcement, and the Teaching Service Commission for disciplinary action.

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A man arrested on Friday, August 5 in relation to a shooting in ‘Chinatown,’ Marigot has been released from police custody, a senior police official has confirmed.

The man who was being questioned for the Thursday, August 4 shooting was released without charges.

However, he is likely to be re-arrested and put on an identification parade, pending further investigations.

The unidentified male may be responsible for shooting Herbie Emmanuel, alias ‘Teflon’ of Marigot, on the balcony of his home around 9.p.m. (Aug. 4.)

Emmanuel sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body and was rushed to Victoria Hospital, where he underwent surgery and is now recovering.

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