Editorial
In preceding publications ‘St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’ reinvents ‘old tools fighting modern criminality’ and St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’ immaterial in law and order, abstract to the St Lucian economy, multiple occurrences summarised the hypothesis that a week-long opportunity for individuals to hand over illegal weapons before the Royal St Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy is an intellectual illusion of intrusive policing.
With the inability to resolve a wide range of law and order issues, it was declared that “beyond the shock and awe of one-off enforcement events, and a non-encompassing approach that simply gives rise to superficially enhancing visibility, Saint Lucia’s security preoccupations must adopt the practice of sustained anti-crime strategy, modern policing and intelligence on a full-time basis.”
St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’ reinvents ‘old tools fighting modern criminality’
There are no excuses!
The article ‘Prime Minister Pierre shapes new ethos: ‘Equity, justice and respect for the rule of law, reads: “Leveraging the forte to support social and economic prosperity, the conditions to build and support strong institutions are mandatory to lead innovation and to grow the economy for generations to come,” said Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre as he itemised impactful capital public sector investment programmes:
- Construction of an upgraded Hewanorra International Airport:
- Improvements to our water supply infrastructure:
- Development of our seaports:
- Construction of Bus Terminals:
- Government’s investment in citizen security continues with the construction of a Police Headquarters Building and the needed equipment for the police.
Shaping a new ethos includes an RSLPF reset
Supporting the work in shaping a new ethos that Prime Minister Pierre has outlined requires an urgent need for the RSLPF to reset.
In line with the 2024 article ‘St Lucia at the mercy of criminals’ – the RSLPF needs the right skills and clear policing guidelines.
The need for managerial and technical talent with components from logistics, advanced tactical training, specialised unit deployment, RSLPF News at Five (police report as news), customer service, administration, operational efficiency and corporate police strategy cannot wait.
The impact of digitalisation, digital tools and/or platforms is transformative. Digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be powerful tools across a wide range of national security institutions. The technology can be used as a foundational building block in collaboration with domestic, regional, external partners, and other government agencies.
Digital transformation has demonstrated the ability to influence global audiences. In the practice of defence, intelligence, communication and arrest techniques, police enforcement and high-risk situations, the power of technology can become a predictable initial training, and innovative standard practice that is universally appealing.
Potential must deliver actionable performance
To underscore the growing demand, there must be a paradigm change to advance contemporary positioning while ensuring sustained visibility and influence. Designated potential must deliver actionable performance to transform competence into a result framework that is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
To contextualise the perspective and form a narrative of transformation, balance and opportunity, Saint Lucia’s national security apparatus must add value, diversity and interconnectedness. Security components must consider social, cultural and economic utilisation. There must be a consolidation of national security assets, the integration of managerial understanding, and technical talent.
Critical Infrastructure (CI) security
Capital public sector investment programmes intertwine with infrastructure, operations, service and security elements, working at optimum capacity and in unison.
Saint Lucia’s critical infrastructure (CI) development, transportation networks (roads, bridges, airports, hospitals, schools, government buildings, police headquarters and stations, etc), public utilities (water supply, electricity grids, waste management), and telecommunications apparatus (internet infrastructure, cellular networks), crucial for economic growth, require strategic security consideration, identification and management.
The desirable output is to gain traction with new and powerful tools in the framework of domestic, regional, and international best practices. And the need to counter ongoing physical security risk, cybersecurity, and transnational crime.
St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’ immaterial in law and order, abstract to the St Lucian economy
Security acquisition, infrastructure and technology adoption
Alongside infrastructural development come security strategies to guide individuals, the government and businesses on current and new threats.
The RSLPF must expand its security influence and knowledge, trends across industry platforms to global acceptable standards. The goal must be to become a powerful police force/service that redefines – security guards, escort services, special off-duty officers and watchmen.
The RSLPF must migrate from event governance and one-off enforcement – gun amnesty, 8-4 police presence in limited areas, hit-and-miss drug bust and poor police prosecutions.
Saint Lucia’s national security apparatus must evolve. The RSLPF must migrate to industry innovation and awareness, and acquire talent for technology adoption in tandem with critical infrastructure (CI) development and business services.
Saint Lucia’s security risk analysis has changed tremendously. The RSLPF must carve out a formidable strategic plan that influences sustained command and control. The RSLPF potential must deliver actionable performance, close the gap on implications, with positive citizen security and public safety-focused outcomes.
Steps are procedural to come to order, searching for the process and actions to complete an assignment. The RSLPF is at risk from within, in dire need of re-education on policing principles. In particular, the doctrine of law and order; advance justice, citizen security, and public safety solutions.
Over to “Operation Clean Sweep” -“127 Steps to Order. ”
