The Minister of National Security in St. Lucia, Victor La Corbiniere, has denied reports that members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force JCF, have submitted a report on their investigation into alleged extra-judicial killings by members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, RSLPF.
Last year, the government of St. Lucia enlisted the help of the Jamaican police to investigate the RSLPF.
This followed the United States withdrawing security related assistance after claims of unlawful police killings.
On Wednesday, La Corbiniere dismissed suggestions that the JCF report, which some say is long overdue, has been tendered as ‘absolutely untrue’.
Minister Corbiniere said the report will be made public at the appropriate time once it’s been received.
Twelve St. Lucians were killed by local police between 2010 and 2011.
This prompted the United States to suspend all forms of assistance to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.
In November, St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony announced that the government had been in touch with the regional authority responsible for crime and secured a group of police personnel from Jamaica.
However, the news that Jamaican police officers were to investigate the RSLPF caused concern in St. Lucia.
Officials said they were concerned whether Jamaica was the best choice, given the country’s own problems with violent crime, coupled with human rights abuses by the police.
A veteran US law enforcement analyst in St. Lucia characterized the move as the fox guarding the hen house.
The analyst said St. Lucia had reached rock bottom and now appeared to be digging even further.
