Vernon Francois
Saint Lucia’s top cop, Vernon Francois, has been given another 30 days vacation leave.
Francois who was expected to return to work on June 30, 2015, was instructed to remain on leave by the Public Service Ministry.
Francois was initially instructed to proceed on 40 days vacation leave after his first set of leave expired.
Errol Alexander has been acting as police commissioner of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) in his absence.
It is not clear as to the motive behind this, but Francois went on leave before Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony addressed the nation on the extra-judicial killings report in early March.
Dr Anthony confirmed that the force worked from a “black list or death list” of persons deemed criminals and officers staged all shooting-death sites to legitimise their actions.
The report also revealed that the weapons supposedly found on the scene of the alleged ‘extra-judicial killings’ were from sources other than the victims.
The investigators say the weapons were ‘planted on the scene of the shootings’.
The investigators also advised that ‘a number of shootings were done by police officers and are listed on the murder statistic as being done by unknown assailants’.
Revealingly, the report suggests that ‘the crime problem in St. Lucia is facilitated by corrupt politicians, government officials, business persons and the police officers’.
No government official has ever come forward to explain the reason behind the repeated extension of leave granted to Francois.