Cpl Aniel Innocent, press officer with the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force. * Photo: Voice newspaper
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) would like to clear the air on a statement made by Mr. Darnley Lebourne on Monday, December 9, 2013 that the RSLPF did not grant permission for the Chakadan Daniel Silent March scheduled for Tuesday, December 10, 2013.
The RSLPF is in receipt of a letter dated December 2, 2013 and received on December 9, 2013 from Mr. Edwin Toussaint, the Chairman of the Shakadan Daniel Planning and Organizing Committee.
The letter in part, informed the Commissioner of Police of the cancellation of the march which was approved for November 25, 2013 – some two weeks later. The letter also indicated that the new date agreed upon by the committee for the march was December 10, 2013.
Mr. Toussaint was informed that the march would have had to be rescheduled due to the late submission of the application and the inability of the organization to secure the necessary manpower and other resources, at such short notice.
Policing such an event requires the redeployment of a significant number of police personnel and resources which have to be drawn from several police stations and departments. The late notice did not allow adequate time for preparation.
The Public Order Act, the authority for allowing such an event, states that any person desirous of having a march should apply for permission at least three days prior to the event. This application clearly did not meet that requirement.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force would also like to categorically deny Mr. Lebourne’s assertion that the application for the march was denied, since the rescheduling of an event can in no way be equated to a denial.
The new date agreed with Mr. Toussaint for the march is Tuesday, December 17, 2013. The RSLPF wishes the organizers and members of the Shakadan Daniel Committee, a safe and successful event.