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The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) will hold a press conference to discuss a matter of public interest, Police Commissioner Cruscita Descartes-Pelius said this week, days after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) held his own press conference.
The DPP’s press conference focused on a number of high-profile cases, including a number of police killings during Operation Restore Confidence in 2010-2011.
Deputy prosecutor Dasreian Green told reporters he had found enough evidence to arrest the officers involved and had informed the commissioner of the situation.
“I know the public is concerned, we are concerned, too,” the commissioner said this week, adding that “I’ll let you know more” as time goes on.
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In the meantime, she said: “Police are working as expected and continue to keep Saint Lucia safe. Despite the challenges our country faces with crime, we are all working together and remaining vigilant.”
“We will answer your questions,” she said.
Deputy Police Commissioner Ronald Phillip also told the media that “always presume innocent until someone is proven guilty.”
“Even if someone is charged, it doesn’t mean they are guilty. We are concerned about it as an organization, that’s all I can say about it,” he said of his colleagues’ involvement.
As for his expectations, Philip said he had none, stating “I really had no expectations from the DPP. Like everyone else in Saint Lucia, I heard most of my information about Operation Restore Confidence from press statements.
“As to what he submitted to the previous commissioner, I don’t know; I have never seen any documents from the DPP.”
Interior Secretary Jeremiah Norbert also weighed in on the situation.
Norbert told the media, “If Mr. Green feels the need to hold a press conference, that is his right.”
Despite a reporter claiming Mr Green had “deceived the commissioner and the RSLPF” at a press conference last Wednesday, Norbert said he would not make any response to the claim.
“I’m not going to comment on that because it can be subjective. Some people may think one way and some people may think that way,” Norbert said.
Besides, he added, as it relates to the morale of the group, “I think some disclosures have been made. I can’t speak confidently to this particular topic because I haven’t talked to the police enough to know how they feel about press conferences.”
“I don’t want to comment too much, I know the prime minister will handle that part. I will limit my comments to those related to the DPP and its press conference.”
On May 5, 2011, Kevin Ferdinand, Rosarius Marquis, John Baptiste Macfarlane, Mitchell Cadette and Allen Louisy were all shot and killed by police.
That same year (February 28), Reginald Jean was also shot dead by the police.
Green told reporters that the investigations into both cases were nearly complete.
The RSLPF is expected to reveal the killings when it eventually holds a press conference, but a date has not yet been set.
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