(ST.LUCIATIMES)Saint Lucia police have received instructions to ‘wipe out’ criminality involving a small group of individuals using all available legal means.
The disclosure came on Tuesday from Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, also National Security Minister.
The Prime Minister led a delegation, including Police Commissioner Crusita Descartes-Pelius, on a visit to Vieux Fort on Monday.
Pierre said the community was still very embracing and hopeful.
The visit followed four fatal shootings.
Three shootings occurred on Saturday in two separate incidents at Cedar Heights and the Mang, and the fourth happened the following day in Bruceville.
A toddler was among those killed on Saturday.
“There can be no excuse for that level of criminality,” Pierre told reporters at a pre-Cabinet press briefing.
“We have to wipe out that criminality. That criminality must stop and I make no excuses for it. I am going to say to you – the government will use all the resources. The police have been instructed to use all available means within the law – all available legal means to wipe out that criminality in this country,” the Castries East MP declared.
“This animalistic behavior cannot be tolerated,” he told reporters.
However, while acknowledging the need for law enforcement, Pierre spoke of the need for more social interventions and crime reduction strategies.
“The message is clear – social interventions, the community outreach, the empowerment will continue. But criminality must stop and all legal means will be used to wipe out that criminality,” the PM stated.
And he urged all hands on deck in the fight against crime.