Aniel Innocent.
St. Lucia has recorded 24 homicides so far this year with five resulting in deaths caused by stabbing, Police Press Officer Aniel Innocent told St Lucia News Online (SNO) in a recent interview.
According to Innocent, the figure is not alarming since the Royal St Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has recorded a number of stabbing over the years, which has now become a common trend.
“It is not something to worry about because in the past years we had a number of stabbing cases and it has become a trend. Persons will find whatever means necessary when committing a homicide to get the job done,” she added
The press officer said while the police force is doing its best to deal with the issue, the situation calls for greater focus on conflict resolution, especially among youths who often times use violence in every situation.
“Our youth do not know how to get their conflicts resolved without getting physical and persons need to get into conflict resolution instead of using physical force to come to an amicable resolution when there is a conflict,” Innocent advised.
Innocent reminded that it is a serious offence to be carrying any sharp objects on person, without sufficient explanation. She related that persons found with any such objects are usually arrested and placed before the courts.
“It is an offense to carry dangerous objects around. When we refer to objects we refer to knifes, cutlasses, scissors or anything that can be used to stab an individual,” she explained.
The police press officer urged all citizens to help in restoring peace to the island and to desist from any violent activity against each other.
The most recent stabbing incident that resulted in a death, involved 27-year-old Lucius ‘Jerry’ Francis of Rockhall, Marchand.
It is alleged that Francis was stabbed during a fight with a friend of a relative. The incident took place near the home of the victim’s father.
Francis was an employee of Pan American Life Insurance Group.
There have been a number of reported cases of stabbing island wide over the last few weeks, most of which resulted in serious wounding.