 Hello, and welcome to a special update of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force coming to you from these studios of the government information Service. My name is Jessie Léonce and in studio we have the commissioner of police mr. Milton Daisy the assistant commissioner of police dr. Machama Sealy and accompanied by the public relations officer within the Royal St Lucia Police Force and Joseph special good day to you all. Thank you so much for being here Good day. We have a few updates and this includes the Covid protocols updates as we have grown accustomed to as well as criminal offenses and Campaign protocols above all are being finally agreed upon by the three registered political parties here in st. Lucia Of course preceding the election day that is constitutionally due this year We do have Agreements made by these organizations the government of st. Lucia the Royal St. Lucia Police Force with these parties and The commissioner of police will engage you shortly on that but we start with the Covid 19 protocols and The offenses the updates that we have from the force in terms of enforcement of this legislation And we start with dr. Sealy on that dr. Sealy. Thank you. Good afternoon The following Covid 19 breaches were recorded by the Royal St Lucia Police Force from 27 December 2020 to 29 June 2021 Business operation breaches 196 Number of persons arrested 32 number of persons convicted one complaints lodged eight Number of individuals warned 158 home quarantine breaches 26 and These individuals were escorted to the quarantine site Quarantine or state quarantine breaches five These individuals were escorted back to their rooms in the quarantine facility home parties 14 number of persons arrested Five complaints lodged two warnings given seven Total minibus travel breaches 163 warnings 163 Individual protocol breaches and that would be non adherence to wearing a face mask 996 arrested 141 convicted 45 complaints lodged for warnings given 800 and 51 Mass crowd breaches 40 number of persons arrested for complaints lodged eight warnings given 28 hotel breaches 15 number of persons arrested one Convictions one Number of individuals warned 14 Co-fue breaches 307 number of persons arrested 111 convictions nine warnings 177 complaints lodged 10 Total number of persons arrested 294 Total number of complaints lodged 32 Convictions thus far 56 cases pending in the court 125 warnings overall 1437 Everyone is therefore encouraged to Continue to follow the protocols and persons who are not following the protocols As to do so for the safety of themselves and their families and these protocols include wearing a mask That covers your nose mouth and chin area Sanitizing Maintaining a social distance Avoiding crowded bars and other areas Maintaining the curfew These protocols were put in place to assist us and to keep us safe And so everyone once again is encouraged to follow these protocols For the past few weekends we observed that motorcades and other activities Which have not been approved have been taking place We are asking that people refrain from doing so as there's a process in order to request permission To have these activities After having a discussion yesterday campaign protocols and now in place and so They're finalized and approved and the commissioner will expound on these protocols. Thank you Thank you. Dr. Sealy assistant commissioner of police We now go move on to Corporal and Joseph who will give us an update on Recent criminal offenses were for the period of this past month Okay During the last month the Royal Sanitia police force recorded several Successes in relation to firearm recoveries as well as updates in relation to some homicides committed on island recently and In the last few months One such matter is that officers attached to the bicycle patrol unit Stopped a motor vehicle in relation to traffic violations on Bridge Street cast trees and During that time a passenger attempted to make a way and was chased by the officers He was arrested and was found in possession of a nine-millimeter Taurus pistol with 13 rounds of ammunition in a magazine as well as well as one chambered round Cuddle Alexander who is a 17-year-old resident of Marigold was subsequently charged for possession of firearm and ammunition on the 22nd of June 2021 officers attached to the grocery police station arrested and charged 26-year-old Travis Snack of Millennium Highway after he was found in possession of a point two to double barrel pistol and Three rounds of point two to ammunition. He was granted bail in the sum of $12,000 cash or suitable surety 42-year-old Blaine Girad who is of Jackmel Residing in Kappa state was arrested and charged after officers attached to the grocery police station Conducted a search of his place of residence at Kappa state as well as a motor vehicle he was in possession of and Following these searches the officers charged him with one count of possession of firearm two counts of possession of ammunition three counts of possession of control drugs and three counts of Intent to supply and that is because a quantity of what is suspected to be Cocaine a nine millimeter pistol seven rounds of nine millimeter ammunition 28 rounds of point two to ammunition will all recovered by the officers in his possession Curry Malix Xander of Henry Avenue viewfort was also a resident charged after he was found in possession of a tourist nine millimeter pistol and Seven rounds of ammunition on Friday the 18th of June 2021 by officers attached to the viewfort police station Randall Evans of Clark Lane viewfort was also a resident charged after he was found in possession of a nine millimeter tourist pistol 10 rounds of ammunition as well as a laser and light attachment for the firearm and that was on Thursday June 17th 2021 and the charges were preferred by officers attached of view for police station both Randall Evans and Curry Malix Xander are still in custody Awaiting a subsequent court hearing on the 21st of May 2021 Necron O'Neill Baptist who is 16 years old and he is LaMille a 16 year old of Denry Were arrested and charged for the murder of Daniel Lora Alia Sticky and that incident occurred on the 30th of March 2021 at White Rock, Denry They are both remanded in custody and are due to reappear before the court on the 23rd of July 2021 The major crime unit of the Royal Sonority Police Force also arrested and charged Miguel Lucien alias concrete on the 18th of June 2021 for causing the death of Taisha Raphael and Jason Paul use as well as the attempted murder of two other males And this was in relation to the incident which occurred on the 23rd of May 2021 about 9 0 5 p.m. At Bwarden Jacknell Miguel Lucien remains in custody pending a sufficiency hearing the major crime unit Also arrested and charged MacGyver show during a police operation and he was arrested in connection with the murder of Tony Edmond Which occurred on the 17th of May 2021 at cul-de-sac? He was charged on the 25th of June 2021 and he was remanded into custody His next hearing is scheduled for the 20th of July 2020 In relations to the campaign protocols that dr. Sealy referenced earlier and the commissioner will expand on an agreement Between the stakeholders was arrived at and it is that follows the campaign activity quota the guiding principle all campaign activities and events must comply with COVID-19 prevention and controlled protocols as directed by the Ministry of Health One small constituency office meetings planning meetings not advised not public and There's no limit on the number of meetings to in person public constituency meetings There is no limit on the number of meetings all meetings will require the prior approval of the police three national public political meetings or rallies No national public meeting or rally will be permitted during the campaign to reduce the risk of infection associated with major mass crowd gatherings for Island-wide national motorcades Island-wide national motorcades will only be permitted on a Saturday Sunday or a public holiday Each party will be permitted one island-wide motorcade per week Permission will be granted for a constituency whistle stops Five constituency motorcades only within the constituency one each Poor party or independent independent candidate poor constituency poor week and enough of the island means from grossly to denry south and Grossly to ancillary and the south of the island is from Mekudnoff to Souffre, Fonsejac There is also curfew compliance attached there and it says all authorized activities must end at least One hour before the curfew time There is an application process that all parties must undergo and That is parties must apply to the Royal Central Police Force at least three days in advance of the day of the proposed event or activity motorcades and public meetings included Providing all details of the activities and parties or organisers must gain written Authorization or approval from the police before proceeding with any activity Thank you very much for that update on the general criminal offences for the last month or so as well as Expounding on the campaign protocols that have been agreed by the three registered political parties and the government of St. Lucia. I now turn to you Commissioner of Police, Mr. Milton Daisy We've seen an agreement to quite unprecedented an unprecedented election campaign No mass gatherings Limitations in terms of meetings and so on speak to us about the process Prior to this agreement and some of the viewpoints of the registered parties and going forward The the feeling of the Royal Central Police force with this agreement made by all parties Actually when we realize that There were political activities going on which involve motorcades whistle stops all various activities of a political nature and We realize the need To come together and set protocols for those various meetings. Actually, I must indicate that All political meetings based on the law you must Person's must seek permission from the Office of Commission of Police. So there must be permission So when we realize that and especially since we are in that season of elections We believe that I consulted with CMO who agreed that yes We could have certain meetings, but on the strict protocols as a result we met and Divide some protocols and brought it out to the various stakeholders including the the political parties the various political parties also independent Candidates that we could have I didn't I identified. So these were security then to them and yesterday the 28th of June we had a meeting with the main political parties and also Some other members of the Green Party at that meeting We discussed and it was healthy discussion and I must say I was very pleased with the result and I had agreed on certain terms, especially on the CMO stressing the need for persons to comply with COVID protocols We agreed and the parties themselves agreed that there would be for every event You would have a team to ensure that they would be Reminding persons of the protocol have the necessary hand sanitizers and so on probably in the open you need to have Types running and running water so to say so that persons would frequently Wash their hands the wearing of mask was stressed and we believe and in fact they The persons who were in attendance agreed that they would Do all in their powers to ensure that persons adhere to the various protocols now one of the In as much as we have opened up so to say the campaign the campaigning But one of the things you must have permission that what we wouldn't want is for persons to have Meetings or motor kids at any part and the police is not away because that is what was happening We need to control these things. We need to have police officers Assigned to the various meetings for security purposes. So That is why a certain number of events will Identified where it was also agreed that beforehand the various parties would send a list of the dates that they wish to have their the event and the Applications could follow after for the various individual events But this we really would help us in our planning stages Okay, speak to us about the implications for political parties or independent candidates who go contrary to this agreement Yes, it is an offense to have any Political meeting any motor kid of any sort Without the permission of the commissioner. So once you are doing it without permission, it is an offense which involves Arresting now we the police. We do not want to go that route So we are urging persons and that was one of the main reasons that we brought The main parties together to understand that if they are going to have their Meetings the motor kids and so on that they need permission So the police is aware and could make the take the necessary steps to Police these events Okay, when it comes to enforcing the law particularly during the political campaign period It can be a very delicate situation Speak to the significance of this agreement being a basis for which all of the political candidates and hopefuls can Be judged by I should say So that if in case we do have an infraction of the law if the enforcement of the law is Brokedown brought to bear it will be against this at least the Ross initial police force will be able to rely on that yes, and as It was understood yesterday I told them that once you have you are adhering to number one The protocols they should have no issue I don't think there's any need for police to confront anyone if you have permission for your activity There should be no no reason for the police to confront any individual So the presence of the police there would be to ensure that you have a safe activity and we are asking and I'm still employing persons that you should not have any activity Without prior permission some sometimes we have seen in the past that persons have activities and Who called the police After to say I'm having this but that will not be permitted and of course I believe there's sufficient Activities that are set so that persons would get their required Permission with so that there would be no issues with the law Okay campaigning during the covert period speak to us about Enforcement in that respect. Yes, actually One of the reasons for an application and for permission is that the police to provide security for it. So That is why we asking the individuals who are applying for a permission to do it three days In fact, the law requires you to do it at least three days prior so that we could put the police in our policing plan in place To police that activity Where again where there's no permission? We are not expecting to have any activity and the police will do all in its powers to stop that activity Okay, and this agreement will it be published online? Yes Actualy every political party would have a copy of it. The intention is to publish it online Make it available to all stakeholders who? Who have the need to to see it and and so on? Okay Commission of the new protocols took effect on Friday That was the 25th of June if you just comment on the Resolve of the police force really with the relaxed measure so to speak the cofee being primary one. Yes, actually it I must say that it it was one that needs to be noted actually persons I don't know if they believed That the country was open and people were free you saw persons coming out in large numbers Without wearing the mask and so on and the without observing protocols The only major thing that was changed was the time of the curfew from 9 p.m. To 11 That's what was changed, but all other protocols remain in place, but persons were not wearing mask day you had some business places Who overcrowded and so on but especially in the Grozile area, but the police and I must commend the grozile police Corporal dashiville Who was in charge of a patrol team who ensured that persons shut down because it was becoming dangerous? Okay How is the force contending with this new input this emerging situation of vaccinated? individuals, you know globally they Privileged, I should say but not legally in all respects across the board How is the world's initial police force dealing with this issue has it had to contend with any particular instance of Non-compliance because a person felt that they were fully vaccinated I believe that it is an issue which brings about various challenges especially where persons Permitted to host a party with a certain number of persons who are fully vaccinated, but the checks and balances have to be done by By them to ensure that everybody who is in that Who is in that function is fully vaccinated. However, we have seen that there were not There are non-compliance in that in that regard and People It is free persons are going to attend their functions and no one is actually checking I must remind Individuals also that there is an application processing as much as you could have the Functions the social activities, but there is an application process and one of the Requirements is that you would have at least two security officers Present one being a police Okay, so you cannot if everyone is fully vaccinated you make the application you still must have a degree of surveillance Surveillance at that place because if not, our persons do not comply unless we become Responsible enough to do it. Yeah, there must be policing of it Okay I come to you doctor see we are based on your statements with regard to Breaches in the COVID-19 protocols Can you speak to additional adjustments that have been made from the enforcement perspective based on these adjusted COVID-19 regulations? As commissioner indicated the main change would have been the curfew so The hours of patrol would have had to change to be a little later in terms of Going out and then showing that the bars close on time shops close on time supermarkets close on time And that people are not roaming the streets and that the persons who are on the road have the requisite Nemo pass That grants them the authority To be out After curfew Okay, we're still getting reports of breaches in home quarantine What indication is this giving us in terms of our capacity to police public the public? Okay, so I would say with regards to home quarantine every now and again There are few individuals who they inform that they are COVID positive and they still they go to the supermarkets They go to the banks they go out and the excuses that they do not have anybody to do so for them So they're encouraged to Have a family member or a friend Pay their bills, you know purchase those groceries drop it by the door for them And you also have a few people who still believe that there's no such thing as COVID and so The behavior is not as it should be With regards to Other Breaches such as the curfew breaches that we have seen and we saw this with past weekend because the curfew Changed you will find people landing on the beaches after hours or staying out in the bars late and so It's just a matter of speaking with the bar Owners reminding them that they need to adhere to the protocols and doing some of the same things that we have done in the past to ensure that the breaches are minimized as much as possible Another thing to notice is the continuation of the transport sector being let off with warnings Can you speak to? Give us any insight on that in terms of them being just let off with warnings And also will we see in future a tightening in terms of the zero tolerance policy for four persons within the transport sector? Okay, so in the time that the hundred and sixty three warnings were done the protocol did not provide for Offense in terms of those breaches. So that is why those warnings were done But then you would have seen that those numbers did not increase for a while Because those issues were not as bad as in the past as officers were out Checking in on the vehicles and so on you will you will have the The bus drivers who will still not adhere and they will still carry more than the number of individuals that they're supposed to but the new protocols it does allow for now three persons per seat and so I Don't want to say I do not anticipate that people will not Add continue to adhere, but I think the number of breaches will decrease Coming back to you commissioner On the topic of the resumption of cruise tourism. So we can't expect what from today for the entire season Increased visitor activity in the city center Can you speak to the plans if any by the Royal Financial Police force to increase? patrolling to ensure the safety of our visitors coming back to our shores and also to ensure that there is Adherence to our national protocols. Yes First of all, I must indicate that especially with the opening today the the plan was to have the passengers the same back in certain numbers per hour and Also As part of the plan was that there would be persons wondering or walking about that They would if they are the same back in that they would be going on a Excursion on an excursion on an approved taxi would take them to a designated site So this is one of the measures that place also what we we have is a We have our teams when it is necessary for them to go off that Here and be walking this the streets that would have police police presence and to ensure that persons would be Wearing wearing of their mask because it is still required Yes until That Protocol is relaxed. We must still policy We heard from Corporal Joseph on the Criminal offenses updates with respect to that huge gains made in the investigation and conclusion of them What what plans are are? underway for hotspot areas because we continue to hear from certain areas continuously Generating criminal activity. Is there any plan of the world's police? police force to increase surveillance in these areas as with the case of What in Jack mill where we saw loss of innocent lives? Yes, actually we have had plans for that and the plans have been implemented and What you find happening that we would have special operations in those areas and also frequent police Presence in the in these areas it by way of mobile or food or food patrol What we normally especially we realize that the denry Jack mill view for terriers were on the increase So we have directed more resources to those areas to ensure that we bring those crime Level down also. We have had some community Interaction here the police going out there. We have Seek help from the Social transformation we have persons going out there speaking to both victims and in some cases suspects Understood and final question for me any connections being made in terms of the illicit Weapons and ammunition Trade and trafficking in country because we've seen quite a few instances as corporal Joseph indicated Yes, actually some of the most of the homicides committed will by means of fire fire with the choice weapon and We believe that the firems trade. Yeah, it contributes towards the homicide So what we will be doing also is to be concentrating on taking off those firems out from the street and Actually, we have a Strategy that would be developed soon from within This would be brought out to the fore as soon as we've We've completed that strategy. Yes Okay, understood at this time. I want to provide the opportunity for final words dr. Seedy So I once again, I would just like to encourage everyone to follow the protocols That is to wear a mask properly sanitize Social distance. I know when we have activities persons forget and so We do not social distance which is important and we remove our mask and for our safety and the safety of ourselves and our Families, we need to remember to be safe at all times also like to remind the public that we need to avoid overcrowding bars and any mass activity mass crowd activity, sorry that Should not be taking place. Especially if there's no Protocol or measure in place to ensure that whatever we're doing is done safely We are battling a disease and so we need to do so together and That is it for me. Thank you. Thank you Joseph, I don't know if you want to incorporate coming from the public relations desk of the force the engagement with media but of course they are anxious for Information coming from you in terms of criminal Updates criminal offense updates. Well, I think before we go to the media I think it's proven that I thank the members of the public who have been Instrumental in the Royal Sonority Police force recording the latest successes I think without them as our partners providing the support the information the Force as an organization will not be able to reap the rewards that we're reaping now As it relates to the media. Yes, we do believe and this is why we're taking this opportunity to Bring this information to the floor We do believe that they're also instrumental in our fight against crime One of the major challenges in our fight is actually getting rid of the fear of crime And one such way that we can do that is to put our successes out there to Restore public confidence and to let people since know that we continue to perform Towards achieving our mandate, which is crime reduction Thank you very much for that commissioner Yes, just to inform the general public that we the police is there to protect Protect and serve and that this we would do we would do it without any fear or favor or Prejudice we would give everybody the same opportunities Especially in that season and let me assure persons that they would be especially in Approving political activities that it would be police in a fair in a fair manner that Everybody would be able to put out their message and their supporters Enjoying or Supporting whichever party of their choice the difference would be on the day of election So we will be out there and the police and that is why we would not Like persons to hold any activity that is not sanctioned by the police So once it is sanctioned, we would have sufficient police officers to man those activities to prevent any disturbance or any security bridge Thank you very much for that commissioner of police Milton Daisy Corporal and Joseph from the public relations desk of the force and the assistant commissioner of police Dr. Mashallah see me in that order speaking today I'd like to thank you so much for watching. This has been an update from the Royal St. Lucia police force on the covert 19 Protocol breaches also criminal offenses and as well as an announcement on and the agreement that has been Come upon by the three registered political parties Independent candidates and the government of the St. Lucia Thank you very much for the work that the force does In terms of the times that we're living in COVID wise as well as campaign wise We're in the election season and we do hope that we continue to have Free fair Engagement with the public as well as the public being able to be responsible enough to adhere to the protocols and The law in general. My name is Jesse Leonce signing off for now. Do stay tuned to NTN for more programming. Goodbye