Officers attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Castries Central are fed up with poor working conditions.
An infestation of bed bugs, dilapidated office furnishings and malfunctioning computers are some of the issues interfering with the work flow of the officers.
The majority of the department’s computers were damaged during an island-wide power outage in May this year. At present, only two computers in the front of the office are operational.
Sources say about seven officers work per shift. This means that only two computers are available for seven officers on each shift, which puts a strain on recording information and investigations.
“Also there has been an issue with chairs or persons in need of assistance/making reports,” a source said.
Sources told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the poor working conditions have been communicated to the management over a period of time but nothing significant has been done.
“These men (senior officers) not feeling it so they can say what they want. Constables are the ones being squeezed,” one of the sources told SNO.
When contacted for a comment, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police for Crime and Intelligence, Milton Desir, said he is aware of the issues and they are being addressed.
Desir said he had requested and received a list of the furnishings needed in the department. He said this list was submitted to the persons/s responsible for procuring the items and he was told that they’re out of stock and the items must be ordered.
Desir said he hopes the items – virtually all the furnishings in the CID office – will arrive soon to ease the burden of the officers.
The acting ACP also confirmed that he held a meeting with the officers of the department and gave them an update on what management is doing to solve the problems.
But SNO sources said some of the officers have been fearful of speaking out.
“The thing is it affects us all and no one seems to be saying anything about it. They just complain to each other,” one of the sources added.