Gun Man Town

I said that I would make a concerted effort to focus on more positively oriented topics this year, but when you think that it cannot get any worse it appears that the other shoe has dropped, what’s next one may be tempted to ask. It is disconcerting reading news of an attack on a police officer in Marchand and the tragic incident resulting in the death of young Miss La Corbiniere further accentuates the need for a real concerted effort to bolster Law and Order within the State.
Previously I expressed the idea that the overall atmosphere in St Lucia was one of a ship astray with no concerted direction or focus. I also expressed trepidations that we were spiralling into a state of anarchy; I can admit in hindsight that I may have been overzealous. I may have also been premature in my diagnoses thinking that we had hit bottom and things could not get any worse. Making the allusion to anarchy may have may have been a little harsh but at the time it appeared that St Lucia was experiencing a crime spurt. One can only hope and pray that the rash of incidents that have occurred at the start of this year’s cycle are only anomalies and are hopefully not harbingers of far worse to come.
The current powers that be have expressed concerns and have formulated a plan to attack, the spike in crime rate. I believe that there is an expressed intent to reducing the crime rate by 50%, this objective should be lauded. We all, every one of us should play our part in ensuring that we contribute to the reduction of any and all unlawful and criminal activity in St Lucia. Whatever we can do to aid in the protection and perpetuation of out great State is our obligation.
When it comes to the expressed plan to reduce the crime rate what would have been refreshing however that was an actual plan of action was unveiled instead of semantics with numbers, a plan not just outlining intentions but actual strategies and barometers to measure the success of these objectives. In my opinion I am an advocate a more community base approach to policing, in my opinion these were very effective approaches previously utilized, as I can clearly remember how policing more community oriented in the not too distant past was.
The rash of incidents that are being reported as the year begins is quite saddening and what is even more alarming is the fact that young people are engaging in violence to solve their disputes. It is alarming that criminals are attacking the foundation of law and order in the State. The proof however is in the pudding and what is left to be seen is what the responses to these issues are.
The death of Miss La Corbiniere should bring with it changes that help make emergency services better. How to we bolster our patient air transport services, do we introduce mobile response units, must we train emergency medical response units to not only be in ambulance and also be based within communities.
The young lady who allegedly committed the crime, while justice needs to be served we must also look into the prospect of saving a life, it is tragic enough that we have senselessly lost one young promising life, we must see that we ensure we mitigate any chance of recidivism after rehabilitation for this young lady.
The response of the law enforcement establishment will be noteworthy and thoroughly scrutinized in many ways. It should be the objective of the law enforcement establishment to make it clear that the rule of law exits within the State, it is by no means however a carte blanche to engage in heavy handedness by the police. Which in this case can only serve to breed a culture of hate and resentment towards the law and perpetuate a circle or retaliatory incidents?