Dear Sir:
Just when I thought there would be little to grab my attention other than the weather down in the countryside, and concentrate on gathering the family for some good wine and food for the Christmas season, there comes an unfamiliar taste and more troubling news from the island of St Lucia.
St Lucia Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony. Photo courtesy news.stluciastar.com
The Government Information Service (GIS) headlines read “New Investigation Unit for RSLPF.” But guess what, that was only the precursor. The real news was yet to come.
Reading the GIS, bulletin left me with very little room but to redirect my farm duties to dissect what was written.
The GIS bulletin began with the line “The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) can expect some changes to its institution. The Police Complaints (Amendment) Bill was passed in the House of Assembly on Tuesday November 19, 2013, which allows for a new unit to investigate complaints against police officers.” Whatever that meant sounded to me more like a code for more vagaries in the Bill and perhaps added to the constitution of St Lucia for skillful lawyers to poke at later?
What followed I was not prepared for “noted there have been teething problems with the existing Police Complaints Commission. This amendment hopes to restore the public confidence in the RSLPF’s ability to investigate their own. What is being proposed in this Bill under Clause 3 with the new subsections is that the Commissioner of Police, after consulting the Minister, create a special unit within the police force charged with the responsibility of investigating complaints coming to them, initially of course from the Police Complaints Commission” — Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony.
Seriously, this action is a carbon copy in a more glorified format of what it intends to replace, to which I sometimes query whether these decisions are concocted by persons of sound mind?
Now here comes the probable unsoundness of this decision, “The Government has also enlisted the help of the Jamaican police to investigate the RSLPF. This comes on the heels of the United States withdrawal of resources to the RSLPF after claims of human rights violations.”
The question many are asking is why the Jamaican police?
Is St Lucia perhaps preparing for a “Dudus Coke” episode? And how will such a move favour the US government’s return to normalcy with the RSFLP and the international community?
Jamaican Police. Photo courtesy jamaicansmusicz.com
The bulletin concluded with a stunning line that read, “The Prime Minister says the key to the success of the new investigation unit will be fearless and independent leadership. Meanwhile the Production Orders Bill was also passed which now requires the police to seek a search order from a magistrate before entering private or commercial property.”
Honestly, this is further semantics that compound the extremities of legislative, enforcement capabilities and leadership. These developments worry me to the point that, after reading this news item, I had to comfort myself that the prime minister’s decisions deserves a lot of prayers and the Holy Ghost’s blessings. Because it continues to amaze me the level to which the Saint Lucian prime minster, with his intelligent legal capabilities continues to flirt with the intelligence of a people; the indulgence of their tax revenue and unfounded resolve to decision making.
The reality is such that the RSLPF needs to continue public-officer relationships. Followed by the execution of proper law enforcement; a commissioner that has the authority to manage a 1,000 man unit, with confidence and reverence, a 24-hour operation, without operational interference from the political establishment and away from a Public Service Commission that is arcane, and with the support of a functioning legal and judicial system.
I would also add that the prime minister is best advised to establish a truly independent special investigative unit (SIU) outside of the RSLPF that is made up of intelligence professionals, private investigators, with legal support (attorneys), and adequate legislative authority to carry out its work — independent of the commissioner of police and political prying.
This SIU would be called up to take over any crime scene and investigation, any time there is a fatal police shooting or extraordinary matter that involves the police within or external of their walls. The SIU would also take over the responsibility of investigating complaints from the public and Police Complaints Commission (thereafter disbanding the Police Complaints Commission). Participate in Coroner’s inquests to help solve numerous pending cases that hold a dark cloud over law and order and the island’s reputation.
It would be helpful if the prime minister would speed up the legislative agenda to help adjudicate the hundreds of outstanding cases by allocating resources to revamp the legal and judicial system. Re-commission the forensic lab with supporting legislation.
Saint Lucia can ill afford such a decision that is ancient in thought and hinges on the federation era of “big islanders whipping down small island people.” After all, the British left us a good police force, the Americans help out with training and their hard earned dollars. I would like to enjoy in my latter years an island where milk, bananas and honey is plentiful, at the least and not blood, fear and turmoil.
Currently, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) are calling for the resignation of the police commissioner of Jamaica, where in 2013 so far, “the police have blown out the brains of over 200 young men.”
Fellow citizens that I have consulted on the matter make reference to Saint Lucia’s use of Jamaican police to investigate the RSLPF as a “continuance of an existence of non assurance; stonewalling and the creation of auxiliary bureaucracy. The extension of ‘no confidence’ in law and order! And a stigma that may draw the island closer and closer to the status of a rogue state.”
What stunned me most was giving details of the latest news to my Saint Lucian wife. She looked at me with bulging eye and remarked, “More corruption.” A rare moment where I had no counter to offer!
My lips were sealed! But just enough to mumble, “Wee, mama.” Will the prime minister hire Mexican police next? They may even be cheaper than the Jamaican police. What’s your view…?
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