PRESS RELEASE - The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, RSLPF, has declared the first month of the year– January 2015, as having registered zero homicides.
Commissioner of Police Mr. Vernon Francois describes this feat as a small victory for the entire island and credits the victory to the citizenry. In contrast, the year 2014 registered six homicides in the month of January.
Mr. Francois says this achievement proves to all that it is possible for citizens to rally together with the police and other partners in the society, to achieve a peaceful and law abiding nation.
“Obviously we are very happy to register zero homicides last month. This is in keeping with declining trends as we have reported earlier. I have always emphasized that losing one life is one too many. Generally we are about working to achieve zero violence.
As officers of the law we have done some work to help push back against crime and to sensitize the public that killings and hurting each other to settle conflict is not the way to go.
In this vein we recognize other agencies, the Church, the Social Transformation officers and other youth and community workers and importantly the Education system who partner with us, and strengthen this message.”
Mr. François says the Police continues to push back against gang violence and the scourge of drug trafficking which are often linked to incidents of homicides.
“If is for us to continue to challenge ourselves to cherish the value of life. I would like to particularly challenge our young men to turn away from acts of violence and to try to direct their energies positively”.
The last time that the records of the RSLPF reflected nil for January homicides on an island wide level was in the year 2000, exactly 15 years ago.