Home Affairs Minister Speaks on Shooting Death of Alfred Harding

STATEMENT BY THE HONOUBLE VELON JOHN

ON INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE

ESCAPE AND FATAL SHOOTING OF

ALFRED HARDING

November 28, 2000

Fellow Saint Lucians,

Earlier today I was informed that escaped prison Alfred Harding was fatally

Shot by the police at about 2:am in the La Clery area. Since then , as Minister of Home Affairs, I have held discussions with senior police officers, following which I make the following announcements.

1. As originally intended and announced, there will be an independent investigation into the manner of his escape from Her Majesty’s Prison. Now, as a consequence of this morning’s incident, that investigation will be upgraded and expanded to also include the circumstances relating to Mr. Harding’s death.

2. As is usually the case, and as the law requires, an inquest will be held and I assure that steps will be taken to ensure that this is done as expeditiously as possible.

3. The police are currently carrying out preliminary investigations that will be useful for the intervention of the independent investigating body. However, the independent investigators will be recruited from aboard and will not comprise members of the police force or the Prisons Department.

At this time, I wish to appeal to any and all citizens who may have any information relevant or pertinent to Mr. Harding’s escape, or his death, to please cooperate with the police and the independent investigators.

Any such information can be communicated directly to the Commissioner of Police or myself. I can be contacted personally or through the Crime Action Line, the number of which is 45-22880.

Your fullest cooperation is required. We all have a stake in the maintenance of law and order and tranquility in the state. And, as I have always stated, in the final analysis, policing is a community responsibility.

In the meantime, I wish to take this opportunity to reassure the general public that everything judicially and legally possible will be done to ascertain all the facts in this case, to ensure that answers are found to whatever questions may arise in the course of the continuing investigations.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Search for 2000 Press Releases ] [Site Help]

© 2001 Government Information Service. All rights reserved.

Read our privacy guidelines.