Marine Unit receives nearly 2 million dollars to assist in crime fighting
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Contact: Rose Marie Harris
Wednesday 8 December 2010 – With the mandate given to the police earlier this week to do what must be done to bring back peace and tranquillity to our country, 1.6 million dollars have been added to the Marine Unit budget in their fight against criminal elements which now, more than ever, are a serious concern to all.
Prime Minister Hon. Stephenson King in addressing the gathering Wednesday where two vessels were handed over to the Marine Unit, stressed that there will be no season for the criminals among us.
“The country must be returned to the people of Saint Lucia and the people of Saint Lucia must feel safe at all times, whether morning, noon or night. Those of us who are called upon to manage and to lead, must manage and lead without fear or favour of anyone in society. “I think we have spoken enough. I think we have said enough. I believe we have cautioned enough. The time is now for the police under its constitutional duties, to take up the challenge and do what must be done to bring back peace and tranquillity to our country.”
In an effort to ensure that the crime wave threatening every community—every sector, every family, and every individual—does not become a way of life, the two new vessels are welcome as the Acting Commissioner of Police believes that the criminals use the island’s borders to sell and trade their ill-gotten goods.
“I have said repeatedly that if you cannot control your marine borders, you will not be able to deal with criminal activity. A number of the crimes now are gun related. We do not manufacture guns in Saint Lucia so we have to devise ways and means of preventing the guns from coming into the country.”
Already the structure of the Marine Police has been upgraded and government is now working on developing the unit to a full Coast Guard Unit.
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