The government of the St. Lucia Labour Party has badly mishandled affairs concerning the security of our country and the administration of justice. Confidence in the institutions of justice and law enforcement is at an all-time low and morale and motivation among those assigned to these institutions are non-existent. The police force has been demoralized; and failure to provide facilities for hearing matters before the courts has delayed or denied justice to citizens. The calamity of the IMPACS report has caused our reputation with traditional partners in these matters to be substantially damaged; and access to much needed assistance and co-operative arrangements placed in jeopardy. The remand population in the prisons continues to be unacceptably high
with more than 50 per cent of the prison population comprising of prisoners on remand. Facilities at the courts are in a deplorable state with adhoc, knee jerk and ill-conceived responses being the order of the day. The human resource situation is in a chaotic state. The government has presided over a virtual dismantling of the office of the Director of Public Prosecution; and the leadership of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has been decimated. Supporting facilities such as the Forensic Laboratory have been left in a state of dysfunction. Amidst all this the Minister for National Security appears inept and unappreciative of the magnitude of the problem.
The police must be commended for continuing to do the best that they can amidst such chaos among those responsible for setting the policy agenda. The United Workers’ Party believes that the security of its citizens is the single most important responsibility of the state. The guarantees of human rights, freedom, democracy, rule of law, peaceful co-existence and justice for all enshrined in our constitution provide the basis against which our development goals are to be pursued; and are essential pre-requisites for attaining and sustaining an improved quality of life for our citizens. A country
where people are not safe in their communities, in their homes, in public spaces and where confidence in the institutions which administer justice is at an all-time low, is an indictment of the government of the day since that government must provide the framework and define the agenda within which the security of the nation is ensured.
Our goal is to create a safe, peaceful environment where the rule of law prevails; where persons can proceed with their daily lives confident in the ability and capacity of the state to protect them; have confidence in the justice system to adjudicate fairly and consistently; where the causes and manifestations of crime are vigorously challenged; and where there is a total commitment to safeguarding the rights of the citizen.
The UWP Government will:
(A) CONFRONT THE FALLOUT FROM IMPACS
• Within 100 days of assuming office, appoint a high level tribunal consisting of former members of the judiciary to review the background to, and take follow-up action on, the IMPACS Report with a view to recommending appropriate means of resolving the situation within the parameters of the laws of Saint Lucia.
(B) RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE INSTITUTIONS OF JUSTICE
We will also implement measures to restore confidence and trust in the justice system through the provision of adequate facilities for quick, efficient discharge of justice by addressing issues of accommodation, equipment and human resources, including:
• Strengthening the office of the Director of Public Prosecution through adequate staffing and provision of other enabling services such as proper equipment.
• Re-visiting the structure of fines and penalties.
• Introducing time limits for the prosecution of cases (indictable/non-indictable) as part of the strategy to reduce
the remand population.
• Reviewing on a case-by-case basis the sentences of persons who have been incarcerated for over ten years.
• Reinstating and strengthening the Witness Protection System; including the institution of facilities for televised evidence (one way mirrors to be set up in court houses).
• Initiating the construction of a “Hall of Justice” as conceptualized during our last term in government to provide modern state-of-the-art facilities for the administration of justice.
(C) REVIEW AND REFORM THE RELEVANT LEGISLATION
We will undertake a comprehensive review and revision of existing legislation and introduce new legislation to facilitate judicial reforms and improvements in law and order administration including:
• Revision of the existing anti-gang legislation.
• Video recording of statements from accused persons.
• Revision of traffic laws to include breathalyzer tests; admissibility of speed gun evidence; and wearing of helmets.
• Improvements in border control including prevention of entry to non-nationals convicted of drug trafficking offences.
• Enhancing/updating our Human Rights laws to meet international standards.
• Strengthening legislation to counter offences of rape, incest and buggery.
• Strengthening the legislative and institutional framework to facilitate co-operation among agencies involved in law and order, including the Correctional Services.
(D) DEVELOP A MODERN, HIGHLY MOBILE POLICE FORCE
We will modernise and re-organise the police force with the capacity to perform its functions of law enforcement in a professional manner within the parameters of our Constitution and the laws of the land, with the required facilities, legal and institutional framework which empower it to discharge its duties, with due regard to the fundamental rights of citizens.
The following will be implemented in support of this objective:
• Removal of political interference in the management and operations of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force in the pursuit of their professional duties.
• Facilitate the institution of a transparent process for the appointment of the Commissioner of Police.
• Introduce confidence and capacity building measures which will include provision of high level training and review of disciplinary procedures within the force.
• Introduce measures to facilitate expediting decisions in respect of the management and operations of the force.
• Make the Police Complaints Unit an autonomous body under the Police Complaints Commission, with its own investigators and a magistrate to hear complaints reported against police officers.
• Create a special investigative department to attend to matters such as shootings and other serious acts by police officers. This department may be part of a strengthened office of Ombudsman, and its officers will have the powers and privileges of regular police and will be empowered to investigate matters of irregularities in public office.
• Transform the Marine Unit into a National Coast Guard. This will further strengthen efforts to deal with trafficking in illicit drugs and firearms; and protection of our maritime zone.
• Introduce body cameras for use in police exercises. They act as an independent means of determining where the truth regarding an incident may lay. They can also help in exonerating officers and limiting the number of issues in which citizens complain about police impropriety.
• Institute Victims Support or Victim Inspired Policing under which a police officer may be assigned to liaise with the family of victims to keep them abreast of the progress of investigations in a timely manner.
• Provide physical and diagnostic facilities in support of crime fighting including the re-commissioning of the Forensic Laboratory.
• Contribute to the creation of a regional police force to deal with sensitive matters.
• Introduce mobile police stations.
• Empower communities in respect of their safety through strengthening and extending the Crime Stopper/Neighbourhood Watch organizations.
(E) CLARIFY THE ROLE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER
A UWP government will seek to clarify and then strengthen the Office of Parliamentary Commissioner or Ombudsman in order that it may play a more meaningful role in our governance. Successive governments have pursued the option of establishing Commissions of Inquiry to investigate or clarify matters of national significance. These Commissions usually end up costing millions of dollars in some cases but have hardly ever justified these huge expenditures. No person or entity has been held to account for the findings of these Commissions. The UWP will undertake to pursue the
strengthening of the office of Ombudsman with the required staffing and resources to carry out these investigations such
as the recent inquiry into the Fire Services. Reference has been made earlier to investigations concerning the police.
(F) INTEGRATE DIFERENT EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES TO REDUCE CRIME
The United Workers’ Party recognises the multi-dimensional nature of crime and other forms of deviant behaviour. Policies to generate economic activity, create employment opportunities and restore our social infrastructure which have been outlined elsewhere in this document will also contribute to crime abatement.
(G) DEVELOP OTHER SUPPORTIVE INITIATIVES
A UWP government will explore the removal of the Special Services Unit (SSU) from the structure of the Police Force and transform it into a National Defence Force. Though such a force is usually associated with addressing insurrection, there is a much wider mandate which it can fulfil including response to natural and man-made disasters. It can also be a vehicle through which a programme of National Service can be instituted and contribute to introducing a culture of discipline in our society, promote community service and generate employment. Parallel to this, the Cadet Corps will be re-invigorated and introduced at all secondary schools. This initiative will provide initial opportunities for screening potential Police and Defence Force recruits. Reforms to the prison system will include the construction of half-way houses which may also be utilized to explore the establishment of a farm labour programme.