Human Rights Activist and Attorney-at-Law Mary Francis.
Human Rights activist Mary Francis is urging citizens to apply pressure on the state, so that they can implement certain strategies to reduce the use of excessive force within the police force.
Francis made this comment in light of the recent killing of a man of ‘unsound mind’ in Soufriere. The attorney-at-law said the whole question to this issue is how the police respond to these cases.
“The police are supposed to be trained and there should be a system in place to deal with these cases,” she stated.
Francis recalled that the Minister of Health and Human Services Alvina Reynolds promised to have teams of medical personnel set up across the island to assist in these matters.
“We say those things, but where is the action and the follow up?” Francis questioned.
The human rights activist said while she does not have the facts of the story, whether the police was effecting an arrest or trying to calm the individual, excessive force should always be the last resort.
She said the police force must take corrective steps now and advised that they put together a manual with protocols to be followed in cases like these, even with the assistance of medical personnel.
Francis said if the police was wrong, then she would advice the family to bring a suit against the state, because the more suits they have, they may be more inclined to do something to address the issue.
“We need to do that, so that they can put mechanisms in place to deal with these issues. I think it’s happening too frequently. Something has to be done to stop the situation,” she asserted.
She said families don’t pursue legal action for various reasons which include: cost and the hassle, but said they should be encouraged to do so, especially when there is glaring evidence of wrongdoing.
“People need to apply pressure on the state to do the things that are necessary,” she reiterated.
The attorney-at law said the fundamentals of human rights are enshrined in the constitution and government must put the structure in place to protect the human rights of St. Lucians, something that has been lacking.
“I don’t think our governments, past and present, care at all about the enshrined fundamental rights in our constitution, because I can say so from my experience in terms of suits against the state.”
Francis said there are cases when it is clear that officers and persons are in breach, and facts show that there is some form of liability and the government does not settle outside of court.
This is even happens in cases where the rules are set out and there is an opportunity for the state to opt for mediation. Instead they would pursue the case and let the matter linger in the court for years.
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