Police deny “death squad” and hit list

 

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC - Police Commissioner Vernon Francois has denied the existence of a “hit list” of notorious criminals and the presence of a “death squad” within the Royal St. Lucia Police Force. 

In the past month, the Special Services Unit (SSU) has shot and killed five suspects in an unprecedented crack down on crime referred to as “Operation Restore Confidence”.

“There is definitely not a death or black squad as is rumored, neither do we operate with a hit list based on the interpretation that is given of a hit list, but obviously in our work as police officers we have profiled a number of persons who have come to the notice of Police as serious criminals.

“So we do have information as it relates to persons who we consider serious criminals that we have to deal with here. But if it is being said that we are specifically targeting people that is not the case at all,” Francois said.

In defending the action of the law enforcement officials, the Police Commissioner said that the lawmen were simply carrying out their duties and sometimes their lives are also placed on the line when they come into direct confrontation with armed and seasoned criminals.

His statement followed the death of 37-year-old Ronald Sylvester, alias “Bage” of East Castries. Sylvester,  who was a suspect in a number of homicides and had several cases some involving firearms pending in court, was shot earlier this week when his car failed to stop at a police check point a few yards from his home.

Francois said that all police killings are being investigated and that action would be taken if the police are found to have used excessive force in dealing with the situation.

“At present the system is working well, because at present we do have police officers before the High Court and matters have been sent to inquest, so every police action is being reviewed and to my mind there is no specific need for an official inquiry, once the system in place continue to work,” Francois said.

But, human rights attorney, Mary Francis, said she does not have any confidence in an inquiry where the police would be investigating themselves.

She said that while she is fully supportive of the work done by the lawmen, she wanted an independent inquiry.

“Especially in cases where we hear persons being killed at the hands of the police. I think it is absolutely important and necessary that an inquest be held for each of the five persons that have been killed last month,” she said.

Local television Wednesday showed a former murder suspect displaying a list which he claimed contained his name and photograph as well as 45 others, some of whom have already been killed in alleged gun battles with the police.

But the Police Commissioner said that it was normal for police officers to have a mug shot of suspects being looked for and that it does not constitute a hit list.

RECORD-BREAKING CROWD IN CASTRIES CITY

THE CITY OF CASTRIES WAS PAINTED RED WITH A RECORD-BREAKING CROWD

GUEST EDITORIAL: CHOISEULIANS! IT'S TIME TO STAND UP

 

"Such charisma at the beginning from Rufus and now the reality shows. 

 

"It is not just the obvious loss around the corner but the true colors of Rufus showing. The short-temper, uncontrollable anger, arrogance, power starving etc.... are all of the real Rufus. 

 

"He has packaged himself to attract the weaker part of the richly educated Choiseul along with the notorious opportunists. He thrives on the notion that Choiseulians are backward, weak and unable to think for themselves. 

 

"In his mind, an attractive ride, some rounds of drinks at some bars, being fair in complexion and speaking a few three-syllable English words in the rural areas represents the winning formula. 

 

"Now that it is evident that Choiseul is made of powerful men and women that disassociate themselves with crooks and make sound decisions, he is again buying empty pockets to scrape tracks (what he calls roads) and build poor excuses for gutters.

 

"Classic example at Des Tout Canawii where he made it even more difficult for low cars to traverse and people to walk after a little rain. Ma Aimancy doesn't forget that first time he came to contest in Choiseul saying clearly to her deceased husband that they would never get electricity at their little rum shop & hall or dwelling home. Thank God that Labour came in and put poles all over the place for free. 

 

"I just want to remind my brothers and sisters, of their children to come, when they make decisions. Rufus has not given any consideration to enact legislation that will improve the lifestyles of our young ones coming behind. As a policy maker he sets no example so that a young man can take him as a role model. Instead he immerses himself in corrupt behavior and selfishly breaks down the moral structure in our society; then again, what can we expect from a criminal. 

 

"The Lagan Road which helps us everyday will be there long after Kenny and Lorne are gone but the Ti Canal Rufus making cannot even last his term in office."

 

Choiseulians! Stand up and be counted if you want true development for your community. VOTE AGAINST BLUFF AND CRIME. VOTE AGAINST BOUSQUET FOR HIS DISRESPECT FOR US.

A campaign to remove a criminal from Cabinet

St. Lucians worldwide get stomach upset  when they hear about this crimnal Bousquet.

A thread has just been started on famous Lucian Blog called LucianTalk to mobilize to get the criminal Rufus Bousquet from the the Cabinet of Ministers:

The Blog address is:

http://www.luciantalk.co.nr/

Which is a greater offence? 

A few years ago, Walter Francois resigned from the SLP Gov’t for falsely claiming to have earned a PhD.

German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg today stepped down after he was found to have plagiarized large parts of his 2006 doctoral thesis. Mr Guttenberg, has already been stripped of his PhD.

Rufus George Bousquet, our current Foreign Affairs Minister is a convict with multiple convictions and Rick Wayne, in one of his Star Newspaper Headlines suggested that one of the crimes that Bousquet committed might well be murder.

As far as I am concerned, the crimes that Bousquet committed are far worse than the dishonesty of Walter Francois and German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg put together.

Hence, what are we doing with the criminal Bousquet in our Cabinet? I don’t feel good at all with him sitting in a cabinet. He should be dismissed forthwith!

I suggest we begin to mobilize to get that criminal out of office.

 His criminal behaviour emphatically came to the fore today when he assaulted and threatened a worker at the Electoral Ofice in VFort.

JOIN THE "REMOVE-BOUSQUET-FROM-CABINET" CAMPAIGN BY POSTING YOUR COMMENTS

Tucker Assaults Clerk at Electoral Office: Will he be charged?

BRUCE TUCKER

On Tuesday morning at exactly 10.10 am, the electoral office in Vieux Fort was the scene of high-level drama which started when a young man walked in to procure his ID card. However, he could not get it because his birth certificate was invalid .

Apparently, the unsuspecting young man was acting under instructions from Bruce Tucker who arrived on the scene within  minutes after the event, steaming with anger and spitting venom. He did not ask any questions; but went straight for the jugular of the Clerk. 

Pointing his fingers straight into her face, Tucker bellowed: “So, you are the one doing this to my voters! I will deal with you!” He came so close to the poor clerk that the droplets his saliva sprinkled all over her face.

The victim was so frightened that she froze in fear and disbelief. After all, she was doing her duties with due diligence and within the confines of our electoral laws; but in came St. Lucia’s foreign Minister bullying her in full view of the public, and inflicting untold psychological injury to a conscientious public servant.

Why should a government minister ever do that a helpless public servant?

The good news for the victim is, according to the Criminal Code, Tucker can be charged for two offences, namely: assault and threat.

The Powerhouse will monitor the outcome of this case (or cases) and provide updates as they become available.

Cricket World Cup: Kemar Roach hat-trick destroys Dutch

By Oliver Brett

Kemar Roach finished off a fine team performance with a hat-trick as West Indies beat Netherlands by 215 runs.

The 22-year-old from Barbados took the first World Cup hat-trick by a West Indian in superb figures of 6-27.

Chris Gayle (80) and Kieron Pollard (60 from 27 balls) took the Windies to an imposing 330-8 on a pitch of irregular bounce, before Roach got stuck in.

The fast bowler produced some exhilarating pace as the associate nation capitulated for 115.

Roach's hat-trick, with the first three balls of the 32nd over (his ninth), saw Pieter Sielaar and Bernard Loots beaten for pace and trapped lbw, before last man Berend Westdijk had his middle stump flattened in emphatic style.

The West Indies' total was the highest at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, which had only recently returned to international service following a 12-month suspension over a dangerous playing surface.

Even when South Africa had beaten West Indies at the same ground last Thursday, however, there were signs that batting remained a tough proposition.

And although West Indies, surprisingly inserted by Dutch skipper Peter Borren, encountered few alarms, a few deliveries barely bounced as they skidded through the dry surface.

Gayle's innings was a sensible one. The former skipper dropped anchor in a 100-run stand for the first wicket with Devon Smith (53), while Pollard provided the theatrics late on, hammering five fours and four sixes in the third-fastest World Cup half-century. Ramnaresh Sarwan chipped in with a 42-ball 49.

By contrast, the Dutch batsmen floundered in the face of early strikes from Roach and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn (3-28).

Roach went on to collect only the sixth World Cup hat-trick and the first of the tournament, as well as the eighth-best figures recorded in the ICC's flagship event.

Essex pro Ryan ten Doeschate, who scored 119 in the closer encounter against England, could not produce another heroic effort for the Netherlands. He fell lbw to Benn for just seven.

Tom Cooper provided the only resistance with an unbeaten 55 off 72 balls, while Dutch spinner Sielaar (3-45) had some joy with the ball amid the mayhem caused by the West Indies bladesmen.

"The ability to keep my pace up and be accurate is the biggest positive for me," Roach said afterwards. "The surface was slow, so our plan was to bowl straight and fast."

He added that he had been inspired by injured all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, whose tournament ended with a knee injury sustained on Thursday.

"I take a lot of inspiration from him, to me he is the big brother. His words inspired me this morning. He tried to give me confidence and I'm glad to perform in front of him.

"He said 'go hard and enjoy', as he always does, 'and be confident of what you do'."

Borren admitted: "I don't think the wicket really worsened, if anything it stayed lower in the first innings, showing just how much we were outplayed today.

"The guys didn't turn up today after a decent performance against England."