Police officers at the scene of a shooting in Faux A Chaud in December 2012.
CASTRIES, St Lucia — The Lucian People’s Movement (LPM) has indicated that it will no longer rely on the government to take action to stem the escalation of crime in Saint Lucia.
“After three years of appeal to the United Workers Party when in power and to the current Labour administration of Dr Kenny Anthony, to convene a national consultation on crime that would involve all sectors of society, the LPM and Saint Lucians are fed up,” said Therold Prudent, the leader of the LPM.
“If the brutal murders of 143 persons during the period January 2010 – September 9, 2013, have not driven home the realization that the quality of life of Saint Lucians is under siege and is descending into an abyss of deep despair, then nothing will,” said Prudent.
“How can Dr Anthony talk about ‘better days’ and have the audacity to promise to transform Saint Lucia into an oasis of national pride when the foundation of national unity, societal discipline and the tranquility that has served as the basis for promoting the country to the rest of the world as an ‘island paradise’ is crumbling beneath our feet?” he asked.
The truth, the LPM leader said, is very clear, “While on the surface, Saint Lucia is a happy and stable society, there is an undercurrent of tremendous personal hardship and misery, compounded by an enormous wave of criminal activities that have never before been seen in the history of Saint Lucia. The outside world is oblivious of these issues and it is time to end the political hypocrisy and take the appropriate steps to fix the country.”
According to Prudent, “The LPM intends to commence a national dialogue with the many frustrated and disenfranchised youths, their parents, the business establishment, the media, law enforcement, religious institutions, farmers, teachers, nurses and other professionals, the families of the deceased and other victims of crime.”
The national consultation on crime is tentatively slated to convene in early 2014, and will be held over two days.
Prudent stated that the convening of a national consultation on crime would allow the people to voice their opinion on issues that affect their personal safety, national security and economic well-being.
“The LPM is appealing to the people of Saint Lucia to get involved and to support this very worthy initiative, which is aimed at restoring order and respect to safeguard the island’s reputation in the eyes of the world,” he said.