File photo of police officers during a parade. The police chief had promised to send over 200 officers all over Castries to safeguard the Carnival activities. * File Photo
At a press conference last week Police Commissioner Vernon Francois warned criminals to stay away from Carnival and promised an increased police presence. His words were no fluke.
St. Lucia News Online can report that large groups of police officers can be seen throughout Castries, patrolling on foot and in their vehicles.
A fight broke around 7 a.m. near a bar on Jeremie Street, but according to eyewitnesses, a large group of police officers quickly quelled the situation from escalating.
“There was a fight by the market but there were like 30 officers there in no time. The police were there fast,” one of the eyewitnesses said.
The police chief had promised to dispatch over 200 police officers to maintain law and order during Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
“I want to assure Saint Lucians that we will be out in full force to ensure a safe carnival. I want to send out a message out there to those who want to come out and engage in criminal activities during the course of carnival that we are going to deal with them,” he added.
“We will also have patrols in surrounding communities because we have noticed when people leave their homes to go and take part in carnival activities we need to provide a level of security for them. We are proposing to do our patrols in the various communities surrounding Castries during the course of carnival,” François told the media.