CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre has acknowledged the progress made between St. Lucia and the French nations, at the same time as he famous that challenges stay in sure areas.
Pierre, addressing the two-day ninth Franco-St. Lucia, talking on the Joint Safety Fee assembly, which concludes in a while Wednesday, said that for the reason that final assembly. On the similar time, progress has been made in numerous areas of cooperation; nonetheless, persistent obstacles stay.
“Since our final assembly, Franco-Saint Lucia cooperation has superior in a number of areas of sensible cooperation, coaching, and border management. Nevertheless, challenges stay in communications, deportations, and catastrophe response.”
Pierre referred to the demise of Ok-9 Tyson, the police canine that had been instrumental in anti-narcotics missions throughout the island.
In July, police stated that they had launched a prison investigation into the suspicious demise of the extremely skilled police canine whose work in narcotics and weapons restoration performed a vital position in nationwide safety operations.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Mashama Sealy stated on the time {that a} autopsy examination had been performed, and investigators have been pursuing a number of traces of inquiry, together with examination of operational environments, forensic testing, interviews, and a complete assessment of latest Ok-9 deployments.
Media stories stated that the canine, which the French authorities had donated, had ingested a toxic substance.
French Ambassador to St. Lucia, Francis Etienne, stated his authorities had given St. Lucia legislation enforcement authorities a canine 10 years in the past and that it had met the same destiny as Tyson.
He stated he was now calling for elevated safety for the one different canine throughout the police service and that this incident must be taken as a warning sign.
“The demise of Tyson has weakened St. Lucia’s interdiction capability although one other Ok-9, Voyou, donated earlier this yr, is offering some invaluable assist,” Pierre advised the assembly.
“We’re heartened by the potential for our French buddies donating one other Ok-9 or two to us, and we await its arrival whereas the police proceed to research totally the reason for Tyson’s demise,” he stated, as he appealed for a stronger resolve towards organised prison networks. “Allow us to strengthen our resolve to make use of all authorized strategies to rid our nations of the prison components that threaten our safety and peace.”
The assembly right here has introduced collectively senior officers from St. Lucia and France’s abroad territories for discussions on border management and safety cooperation.
Martinique Prefect Etienne Desplanques, Legal professional Basic of the Courtroom of Enchantment of Martinique, Patrice Camberou, are amongst these attending the assembly, which has up to now centered on safety and trafficking, in addition to operational cooperation, together with technical tools and mutual assist initiatives.
Discussions concerned the assessment of radar surveillance techniques, border safety measures, and challenges in deportation and immigration procedures. The authorities are additionally anticipated to debate bettering coordination between the borders, significantly in stopping “undesirable St. Lucians” from re-entering Martinique and facilitating the handover of deportees needed by the St. Lucian police.
Legal professional Basic Leslie Mondesir said that the assembly builds upon the final Fee assembly held in Martinique in December 2022.
“At that assembly, a strategic motion plan was developed, together with coaching, joint operational actions, provision of technical tools, judicial cooperation, immigration, and the formation of a restricted monitoring committee. This assembly right here at present additional expands that prior dialogue,” he stated.
