Terrell Henry

A 22-year-old Saint Lucian man who lives in New York, was shot dead on a Brooklyn street early Friday, several New York media publications have reported.

Terrell Henry was fatally shot in the neck and torso at around 1:50 a.m. as he walked out of a deli on Covert Street near Wilson Avenue in Bushwick, New York after buying an iced tea, the New York Post reported.

Henry was leaving the deli to join his twin brothers and a friend who were waiting in a nearby car, when the shooter, dressed in all black, shot him and allegedly made off in what may have been a silver car.

Police provided no motive for the tragedy, and his father, George Henry believes his sons were “at the wrong place at the wrong time” or it could be a case of “mistaken identity.”

But New York police are also investigating the claim that Henry and the gunman got into an argument as one of his brothers walked into the deli prior to being shot.

The dead man was about to start his fourth year at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he was studying in hopes of joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

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A man believed to be mentally ill is now in police custody after attacking and wounding his father and a police officer Friday night.

The incident unfolded after the man, armed with a machete, was accosted by his father who then called the police for help.

The man then attacked his father, inflicting a wound on his neck.

On arrival of the police an officer was injured while trying to subdue the young man.

The man was only subdued after the police disabled him by shooting him in his leg.

In response to the incident the Police Welfare Association President, Camron Laure, gave the police a thumbs up for their conduct during the attempt to subdue the man.

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Three persons were injured in a drive-by shooting late Sunday while sitting in a vehicle near the Black Stars gap at Morne Du Don, Castries.

The shooters drove off after firing multiple shots and police are now hunting for them.

It is not clear what injuries they suffered, but eyewitnesses claim that at least one of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries in the shooting.

Police and ambulance officials responded to the scene at around 8:40.p.m. after receiving multiple calls about shots being fired in the area, a police source told SNO.

No motive for the shooting has been determined but persons with information are being asked to contact the police.

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Police took three men into custody after an attempted carjacking on early Monday morning in the North.

A police source said the carjacking was reported around 3.am. (Aug.15).

Reports are that the men held up a Gros Islet bus driver and ordered him to drive to Balata.

However, while travelling to the area, the driver stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road blocking traffic from both directions, which led to the men escaping.

The police were called in and a search of the area led them to the three men and one firearm.

They were taken into police custody.

Investigations are ongoing.

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DEAD: Kimran Jameson

One of three victims in Sunday’s drive-by shooting has succumbed to his injuries.

Kimran Jameson,26, died while receiving treatment, a senior police official confirmed.

Jameson had sustained several gunshot wounds and was listed as the most critical of the three victims.

He was in the company of two other men who were sitting in a jeep near the Black Stars gap at Morne Du Don, Castries when another vehicle drove up and fired multiple shots at them.

The incident is reported to have occurred around 8:40.p.m. (Aug.14).

The two other victims have been identified as Sebastian Edward and Rosemond Thomas.

Investigations are ongoing.

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Police Commissioner Severein Moncherry.

With the increased number of criminal activities over the past several weeks, Top Cop Severin Moncherry has promised to go after those who break the law.

The top cop made this disclosure on Tuesday stating that in addition to the recent double homicides in Vieux Fort, there have also been reports of burglaries and the attempted rape of a senior citizen.

“We are working feverishly to see if we can bring a stop to that,” Moncherry said.

The top cop said the Force has been going after persons with illegal firearms and will continue in that vigorous campaign to ensure that there is less violence on the streets.

Again, Moncherry spoke about the porous borders which makes it easy for illegal guns and ammunition to enter the island but said the police will do all it can to ensure this is lessened.

Saint Lucia’s homicide toll climbed to 19, when Kimran Jameson,26, died while receiving treatment following a drive-by shooting  Black Stars gap at Morne Du Don, Castries.

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18. STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE TO TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, AND MINISTRY

(1) Every student is accountable—

(a) to the teacher for his or her conduct on the school premises during school hours and during such hours as the teacher is in charge of the student in class or while engaged in authorized school activities conducted during out-of-school hours; and

(b) to the principal for his or her general deportment at any time that he or she is under the supervision of the school and members of the teaching staff, including the time spent in travelling between the school and his or her other place of residence.

(2) Every student is under the general direction and control of—

(a) the driver of a school bus, if the driver is an employee of the Ministry of Education; and

(b) any person under whose supervision students are placed on the authority of the Chief Education Officer,

in respect of the student’s general behavior and deportment on a school bus, or while under supervision as the case may be.

19. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS

(1) A student may express any religious, political, moral, or other belief or opinion so long as the expression does not adversely affect the rights or education of other students, or the rights of other persons in the school.

(2) Students who have attained the age of 18 are entitled to exercise all the rights and powers, to assume all the obligations, and to receive all the benefits under this Act with respect to them that their parents are otherwise entitled to exercise, assume, or receive on their behalf.
“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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Prime Minister Allen Chastanet

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has given a commitment that his government will work to bring about changes to policing and the justice system, something he admits is desperately needed on Saint Lucia.

Chastanet said that these changes will begin with a Hall of Justice which will bring together the various courts on the island to better serve the people of the country.

“The idea of courts all over the place is not working. We are looking to get the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) put in place as quickly as possible. As you would know, Cabinet just approved the amendment to have the DPP’s salary increased. So we want to get a DPP as quickly as possible,” he explained.

The prime minister again spoke about the huge backlog of some 4,000 plus cases which he hopes could be addressed once a DPP is appointed and get the wheel of justice moving quickly again.

In addition to that, Chastanet said that his government is also working to build a new police headquarters, which will also house the Marine Unit.

“The building that the prime minister (Kenny Anthony) had earmarked for himself (Hope site), we have agreed to make that the new police headquarters. So, I have them putting together a presentation to present before Cabinet so we can finally make that final decision,” he stated.

Government is also looking to convert the Customs and Excise Department into a border control unit, to work in tandem with the Marine Unit and Immigration Department.

“What that is going to do is allow us to access funds through the United States because none of those border control entities is the police. So we are moving very quickly to address the situation but it has to come with improving the infrastructure which is both human and physical, in order to give the capacity to those two entities to be able to restore security in this country.”

The justice system has been plagued with a number of issues over the past several years and the ruling United Workers Party (UWP) had promised to address this and other critical issues if elected into office.

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National Security Minister Hermangild Francis

The upsurge in criminal activities particularly in the country’s capital, Castries has led officials from the Castries City Council and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force to meet with National Security Minister Hermangild Francis.

Francis said he is deeply concerned about the issue, explaining that mostly young people are responsible for the increased number of crime occurring daily in the city.

“We have identified who some of the young people are, and the police are going to be working assiduously in dealing with that,” the minister told the media on Thursday.

Francis said during his meeting with City Mayor Peterson Francis and his councillors, Police Chief Severein Moncherry and Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police for Territorial Policing Crusita Pelius , they discussed ways in which they could handle this matter effectively.

During those discussions, the team also looked at ways they could move to revamp the city police department.

The city mayor has said the additional officers are needed so that the police department can respond quicker to non-violent calls and provide the type of coverage of the city that is expected.

Statistics produced by the police in January 2016, showed an increase of 18 percent in robbery offences, despite there was an overall decrease in reported crimes.

Only today( Thursday), another Castries store named Sam’s Shoes was burglarised, following a series of other incidents during the past several weeks at other city businesses.

And recently, Canada upgraded its travel warning for Saint Lucia urging its citizens travelling here to avoid several places, including Chausee Road, because of high rates of crime.

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20 RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS

(1) …, parents of students attending public schools and assisted schools are entitled—

(a) to be informed of the progress, behavior and attendance of their children;

(b) upon reasonable notice to the principal and teacher, to observe the instruction of their children if the parental visitation does not impede the instruction of other children;

(c) to appeal decisions that significantly affect the education, health or safety of their children; and

(d) to be consulted in the development of any special education programmes prepared for their children.

(2) A parent of a student attending a school may, and at the request of a teacher or principal shall, consult with the teacher or principal with respect to the student’s educational programme.

(3) Every parent shall inform the principal in writing of any medical or other condition peculiar to their child—

(a) on admission of the child; or

(b) as soon as the parent becomes aware of such medical or other condition.

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Hermangild Francis

Equipping police officers with new vehicles and introducing the use of breathalyzers are amongst the measures to deal with drunk/dangerous driving and the state of road safety on Saint Lucia.

A breathalyzer is a device used for estimating blood alcohol content from a breath sample. Law enforcement may require a breathalyzer for suspected drunk drivers without a warrant after an arrest.

National Security Minister Hermangild Francis has said that these equipment which were procured for use in the Traffic Department of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) are now in Saint Lucia.

However, police officers will first have to be trained to use these equipment before they are introduced to the general public, which the minister said will most definitely carry a cost.

Francis said his ministry is also looking to increase the current fleet of vehicles being used by the Force, explaining that most of the motor vehicles currently in use are over 15 years old.

While explaining that the current budget inherited by the new government does not cater for purchase of these new vehicles, the minister said it is his intention to ensure that this is catered for in the next annual budget.

Francis, a former deputy police commissioner, said by increasing the police vehicles, there will be more frequent patrols on major highways, especially on roadways that are prone to accidents.

He suggested that instead of building more police stations, he would like to see the establishment of various police districts instead, where police officers will be on vehicle patrol in places like Millennium Highway.

“So you would find police officers traversing there and every ten minutes you would see a police vehicle,” he said.

The minister thinks that with a higher police presence, there could be less speeding, drunk driving and there will be less overtaking on busy highways and streets.

Francis has given his commitment to ensuring that the RSLPF is properly equipped.

The government also has plans of building a new police headquarters.

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PRESS RELEASE – Police have launched an investigation into a shooting incident which occurred on Saturday, August 20, 2016 about 9:00 p.m. at Rockhall, Castries.

According to reports, 30 year old, Mark Grant of Bocage, Castries sustained a single gunshot wound to the body perpetrated by an unknown individual.

He was transported to the Victoria Hospital where he is in serious but stable condition.

Investigations are continuing into this matter.

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Sarah Flood-Beaubrun

In light of a recent fatal shooting in Morne Du Don, Castries Central Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Flood-Beaubrun is calling on youth to stay away from violence.

Flood-Beaubrun said she is saddened by that particular incident and those of many young people who have lost their lives to violence,not only in her constituency but throughout Saint Lucia.

“Violence will not solve anything, it will only breed further violence. I want to express my support to the police and I want citizens to cooperate with the police because unless we do that perpetrators of violence will not be brought to justice, she said.

The Castries Central MP and government minister again stated that focus needs to be placed on dealing with the causes on crime,noting that there needs to be an intervention.

“We need to get to drawing board to come up effective solutions to deal with crime. And that has to be a national approach and not just a particular constituency or an individual parliamentarian. The situation cries out for that and as citizens we have to be committed to doing it.”

Twenty-six-year-old, Kimran Jameson died following a drive-by shooting on August 14.

Jameson was in the company of two other men who were sitting in a jeep near the Black Stars gap at Morne Du Don, Castries when another vehicle drove up and fired multiple shots at them.

There have been other shootings and violent criminal activities among youth in Castries Central over the past several months.

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PRESS RELEASE – DAMAGE TO SCHOOL PROPERTY (EDUCATION ACT OF SAINT LUCIA 2008)

(1) Every student in a public school and assisted school shall take good care of any public property placed at the student’s disposal and where such property is to be returned, the property shall be returned in good condition at the end of the school activities on a day and time determined by the principal.

(2) If a student fails to comply with subsection (1), the Chief Education Officer may claim the value of the property from the parents of the student if a minor or from the student if the student is 18 years and over.

(3) If the property of a public school or assisted school is destroyed, damaged, lost, or converted by the intentional or negligent act of a student who is a minor, the student and the student’s parents are liable in respect of the act of the student.

(4) If the property of a public school or assisted school is destroyed, damaged, lost, or converted by the intentional or negligent act of 2 or more students who are minors acting together, the students and their parents are jointly and severally liable in respect of the act of the students.

(5) If the property of a public school or assisted school is destroyed, damaged, lost or converted by the intentional or negligent act of one or more students who are 18 years or older—

(a) the single student is liable in respect of his or her sole act; and
(b) the students who acted together are jointly and severally liable in respect of their act.

“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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Minister Hermangild Francis.

As part of efforts to reform policing on Saint Lucia, the new government has plans to establish a border patrol agency, something that National Security Minister Hermangild Francis said is desperately needed.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet had suggested that the Customs and Excise Department be converted into a Border Control Unit that will work in tandem with the Immigration Department and the Marine Unit.

Francis said the ultimate plan is to separate this unit from the police.

“Because at the end of the day police are going to get involved in some unsavory incidents and at the end of the day the Marine Unit will be left to suffer. So the best thing to do is take them out,” the minister explained.

He said if the Marine Unit did not fall under the Police Force, they would have still been receiving assistance from the United States (US) government.

Francis, a former deputy police commissioner, said he had always advocated for the Marine Unit to be a stand along entity and serve as a coast guard for Saint Lucia.

“Barbados has a coast guard and Barbados is just 166 square miles and yet they have a coast guard. Antigua has a coast guard and I am saying Saint Lucia, the best thing for me, is to have a coast guard.”

However, Francis said two other important  factors that must be looked at is the cost and feasibility.

Meanwhile, the Golden Hope Hospital has been earmarked as the site for the new Police Headquarters.

But Francis has said that building a new Police Headquarters will take some time, explaining also that the US funded Marine Unit building is already expensive as it stands.

“In the end, we would want everything in one space but in the immediate future I don’t see that happening, “he said.

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A 10-year-old girl from Castries was allegedly raped on Monday by an adult male, police have confirmed.

A man who claims to be an eyewitness caught the alleged perpetrator in the act with the girl.

The said eyewitness told the media that when he saw the girl moving in an unusual position, he went to investigate and found that the man was sexually molesting the child.

The girl was stripped of her undergarment, and the man who is believed to be in his 30’s, was found naked from the waist down with his genital exposed, according to the said eyewitness.

An alarm was raised but the man managed to escaped. He was later caught by police.

The child who was not under adult supervision at the time was taken to hospital.

Officials from the Human Services Department were called in.

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PRESS RELEASE – Efforts to deal with delinquency in schools are being strengthened, as the Ministry of Education presented laptops to the Community Relations Branch of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, in a handover ceremony on Monday August 22nd, 2016, at the offices of the Ministry.

The laptops are expected to assist with conducting research and educating young delinquents in various schools island-wide.

Minister for Education Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert said she is extremely pleased with the collaboration between the Ministry and the Community Relations Branch.

“I trust that with these additional tools you can enhance our levels of efficiency and broaden your intervention, as we continue to partner to bring delinquencies in schools under control. I trust that the area of suspension that we continue to collaborate on, will receive not only additional resources in terms of hardware, but also in terms of technical assistance,” the Minister said in her remarks at the handover ceremony.

Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and National Security Sen. Hon. Hermangild Francis expressed appreciation for the donation, which he said, will assist in the work of the Communications Branch of the Police Force with Saint Lucian youth, particularly within schools on the island.

“Our youth are in a crisis, and it is good that we have a department in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force that deals with these very volatile youngsters. It is important when dealing with crime situations, to deal with it in a holistic way, and we need to start with our young people. So having said that, I want to thank the minister and her staff for so kindly and graciously giving us the eight laptops so that we can enhance our work,” said the Home Affairs Minister.

Sen. Francis believes it is of utmost importance to work with the youth at an early stage of their lives, in order to ensure they don’t become problems for society at later periods in their development.

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An alleged jihadist linked to al-Qaeda who was on the run since July 27 was finally arrested on Monday, August 22, in Morne Rouge, Martinique.

Several media companies in the neighbouring island reported that Rachid Rafaa, 40, was found in the bungalow where he had been held under house arrest.

“He came back occasionally to retrieve fruit and food in the evening where he was staying and off again in the mountain woods,” said a witness to the local television station, adding that the man is currently in custody custody.

Rafaa was under house arrest in the town since May 15, 2014, an administrative decision taken in the context of a ministerial deportation order.

The Moroccan 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.

However, 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.

He was arrested in France in 2009 and transferred to Martinique after the European Court of Human Rights decided not to extradite him to Morocco for fear he may be tortured.

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PRESS RELEASE – (1) After a person is charged with an offence under this Sub-Part (sexual offences), any matter that is likely to lead members of the public to identify a person as the complainant or as the accused in relation to that charge shall not be published in a written publication or be broadcast in this State except—

(a) if, on the application of the complainant or the accused, the Court directs that the effect of the restriction is to impose a substantial and unreasonable restriction on the reporting of proceedings and that it is in the public interest to remove the restriction in respect of the applicant; or

(b) in the case of the accused, after the person has been tried and convicted of the offence.

(2) A person who publishes or broadcasts any matter in contravention of subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for 3 years.

(3) The person referred to in subsection (2) is in the case of—

(a) a publication in a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, editor or publisher of the newspaper or periodical;

(b) any other publication, the person who published;

(c) a broadcast by a body corporate which transmits or provides the programme in which the broadcast is made, the person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of an editor or publisher of a newspaper.

(4) In subsection (1)—

“accused” means—

(a) a person named in an information alleging that the person has committed the offence;

(b) a person who appears before the Court charged with the offence;

“complainant” in relation to a person accused of an offence includes the person against whom the offence is alleged to have been committed.

“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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A new neighborhood watch initiative dubbed ‘School Crime Watch programme’ will be launched in education district five in the coming weeks, it has been reported.

The new police initiative which follows the successful launch of a similar programme in education districts one to four, will see the Richfond and Dennery Police Stations working closely together.

The objective of the programme is to help youth watch out for each other to make the entire school area safer and more enjoyable for all, and allow students to take a share responsibility for their school community.

Police will also help these students to learn how to keep away from becoming victims of crimes, report suspicious activities or arguments between students, and help build school wide resistance to criminal activities.

And importantly too, provide a way for students to respond to incidents of crime and related issues.

Sergeant Ted King of the Richfond Police station said the programme is designed in a way that allows for students to remain anonymous and will cause students to have zero tolerance for crime whether as a victim or a witness.

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