CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre says his administration will proceed to empower the police “with all accessible sources” to cope with the rise in gun-related crimes, notably amongst younger individuals.
“We’re dedicated to attacking that downside with all accessible sources and name on the help of the general public and all social and non-government organizations,” Pierre mentioned in his first nationwide broadcast for the brand new 12 months on Sunday night time.
St. Lucia recorded 75 killings final 12 months, with police classifying 70 of them as murders. The island recorded its first murder for 2024 on Saturday night time when a person sustained a number of gunshot wounds in Bexon, southeast of the capital.
Police mentioned at the very least three gunmen kicked down the door and opened hearth on the deceased, recognized as Omar Francis, alias Kodak.
In his broadcast., Pierre mentioned that his ruling St. Lucia Labour Get together (SLP) authorities “will proceed to empower the Royal Saint Lucia Police Pressure with the technical, bodily, and human sources they should detect and resolve felony exercise.”
He spoke of elevated penalties for unlawful possession of firearms. He urged members of society to “encourage values that can steer our youth from the false hope and good points of a lifetime of crime to productive pursuits that can redound to the advantage of everybody.”
Pierre mentioned {that a} well timed dispensation of Justice could be improved with the development of the brand new Corridor of Justice throughout this fiscal 12 months and the renovation and development of police stations and “custody suites” for prisoners.
He additionally spoke of bettering the well timed dispensation of Justice Justice with the graduation of the development of the brand new Halls of Justice throughout this fiscal 12 months.
Concerning the economic system, Pierre mentioned the federal government would proceed to develop the economic system by empowering all sectors, noting, “Our tax reform and tax amnesty insurance policies will likely be reviewed in order that extra disposable revenue will likely be positioned within the fingers of companies and people.”
He reminded the nation that over EC$40 million (One EC greenback = 0.37 cents) in tax refunds had been processed between 2021 and 23 and that the federal government had eliminated withholding taxes on contracts of EC$40,000 and beneath.
“We are going to introduce laws to encourage residents within the diaspora to return to open enterprise ventures in our nation,” Pierre mentioned, including “that laws will embrace incentives and enchancment within the granting of approvals and different processes.”
He mentioned that the Minimal and Equal Wage Committee has submitted a draft report back to the federal government and that “we anticipate to have additional consultations with the non-public sector on the report.
“We anticipate to have the ability to implement a livable wage for employees throughout sectors in St. Lucia later this 12 months, “Pierre mentioned, including, “We’re very optimistic concerning the continued development prospects for 2024.
“In 2024, we have to broaden our nationwide discourse to incorporate monetary literacy, international financial occasions, nationwide satisfaction and id, well being life, reparations, and local weather change, which is now seen as an existential menace to human existence.”
However Prime Minister Pierre instructed the nation that “we should proceed with warning as there are some draw back dangers.”
He urged the inhabitants to muster the braveness to place apart petty variations, acknowledge what binds them, present consideration for one another, and compassion for the much less lucky.
“Allow us to resolve in 2024 to achieve out to one another with a better sense of charity, love, understanding, and friendship. We should acknowledge that working collectively as one nation, one individuals, with a typical goal, is the one viable pathway for our nation to achieve inclusive, significant, and sustainable growth.
“ We should resist the harmful forces of division and embrace the uplifting spirit of unity as we work collectively to construct a extra equitable and inclusive society,” Pierre mentioned in his broadcast.
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