Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony oversees the parade of police and uniformed groups during the 2015 Independence Day Parade. * Photo by Marius Modeste
Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony has announced plans to include human rights law in the training of police recruits and increase the assistant commissioner positions, among other initiatives, in response to the findings of a report into the investigation of the 2009-2011 extra-judicial killings.
Below is the excerpts of the prime minister’s speech on the way forward:
“The most fundamental question that faces us at this juncture is perhaps the most simple and obvious one: where do we go from here?
“There can be no question that our relationship with the United States is vital both to our security and to the security of the United States. We cannot allow a situation where the chief custodian of our national security and other senior police officers in the High Command of the Police Force cannot travel to the United States for discussions on our shared security interests. Equally, it cannot be in the interest of our Police Force and I daresay, our country itself, that the skills of our officers cannot be improved because they are denied access to training once American sponsorship or funds are involved. More fundamentally, we cannot continue in a situation where we are viewed as a pariah State by our partners in the fight against crime and lawlessness.
“There is perhaps no subject of co-operation between states that require “trust” more than co-operation in security matters.
“Clearly therefore, we need to address the issues that arise from the application of the Leahy Law and I do so now.
“Firstly, the Government has decided that the training of police recruits will henceforth include a module in Human Rights Law. All current police officers will be required, in rotation, to attend training to sensitize them to the Human Rights provisions of our Constitution.
“Secondly, in order to strengthen the pool of Gazetted Officers, the Government, in consultation with the Police Force and our partners, will organize and conduct an accelerated training programme for potential promotion to the ranks of Gazetted Officers. Admission to this programme will be done on a competitive basis.
“Additionally, we will augment the institutional capacity of the Police Force by increasing the Assistant Commissioner positions by one, increasing the number of funded sergeant positions by five and the number of funded corporal positions by ten.
“Thirdly, we will make provision in this year’s Estimates of Expenditure for the appointment of Special Prosecutors to assist in the prosecution of any cases should the Director of Prosecutions so decide to prosecute.
“Fourthly, the Cabinet will appoint a joint committee under my chairmanship, to oversee the implementation of the report of the investigators. The Committee will include representatives of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and civilians.
“Finally, the substantive Commissioner of Police, Mr. Vernon Francois, who is currently on leave will continue on leave until his current period of leave expires. Mr. Errol Alexander will continue to act as Commissioner during this period.
“I wish to make it clear however, that there will be personnel adjustments within the Police Force as we seek to effectively manage this transition and ensure optimal functioning of the Police Force. It is vital that this transition is orderly, peaceful and in accordance with our laws and practices.”