Human trafficknig in fishing boats
Story By
Carmy Joseph

A number of fishermen have gone missing in recent times particularly from the south of the island. Oftentimes people say these men were engaged in drug trafficking and not fishing. Charles says the missing men have been registered fishers with his Department. He says further that he has no records of any fishermen or vessels being engaged in drug trafficking.

When it comes to identifying vessels that might be engaged in illegal activity – the Chief Fisheries Officer has one simple rule. He says the number of people in the vessel is a tell tale sign of what may be taking place. The Fisheries Department has over 2100 registered Saint Lucian fishermen and 780 boats. These fishermen and their vessels are licensed on an annual basis. Vaughn Charles says it is rarity for any of these fishers or vessels to be involved in illegal activity.

Law Enforcement Officials says private security firms need to screen applicants carefully for security guard positions. A female officer stationed at the George Charles Airport was charged with possession when she appeared in Court Wednesday. She is alleged to have stolen two laptops in the course of carrying out her duties. The Officer worked in the Airport’s check in section and routinely screened passengers’ luggage. Assistant Police Commissioner for Crime and Intelligence Vernon Francois this situation

highlights the need for regulation of the employment requirements of private security companies Francois says this incident puts the role of private security in the spotlight. In a statement, the Air and Sea Ports Authority said it is particularly concerned about this incident and SLASPA is cooperating fully with the police investigation. The Authority says it has held discussions with the contracted security firms to ensure systems are in place to prevent a recurrence. The Assistant Police Commissioner says there is a need for private security guards on St. Lucia, but these security personnel should be thoroughly screened and meet stringent standards.

A possession conviction carries a maximum of six months imprisonment and a fine. SLASPA says it will continue to enhance its security at the ports and hold information sessions with the entire airport community.

Four young men appeared in court Wednesday, charged with gun possession. The quartet was arrested on Monday by officers of the special services unit on a mobile patrol in the Lafeuille area. The SSU officers stopped a white Nissan Tiida, registration number pg 677 around 9:30 in the night. A search of the vehicle yielded a 9mm pistol and six rounds of ammunition.

Police arrested 18-year-old David Hilton of Morne Du Don; 22-year-old Shawn Francis of Entrepot; 19-year-old Victor Wilson of Bocage and 22-year-old Shervon Butcher of Water Works road. They were charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition. The four appeared before magistrate Velon John at the Gros Islet court on Wednesday.

They were bailed on their own recognizance. They were ordered to surrender their travel documents and were placed on an 8:00pm to 6:00am curfew. The case has been adjourned to September 3rd.

A middle-aged man from Ti Rocher Micoud was arrested this week trying to smuggle a quantity of drugs into the Bordelais correctional facility. 53-year-old Cyril Frederick was employed with a garbage collection company in the south. Officials of the facility say Frederick and his garbage truck were searched around 1:15 last Monday at the entrance to the facility. Officers say they found a quantity of marijuana in Cyril’s gloves – the amount around a quarter pound.

Police were called in and Frederick was taken to the Dennery police station where he was charged for possession with intent to supply. The 53-year-old man appeared in the Dennery district court yesterday where he was fined five thousand dollars. In default, he will spend eighteen months in prison. Corrections officials say they are very disappointed that a man of Frederick’s age is involved in smuggling drugs into the prison.

Fire Officials say the do-it-yourself approach taken by the public in cases of fires may result in more harm than good. Fire Chief Leslie Fontenelle says there is nothing wrong with trying to assist – but his men need to be informed of fires early. He applauds the staff at Almond Smugglers Cove for their attempts to extinguish the blaze but Fontenelle says they waited too long to call emergency personnel for help.

Management of the hotel were not cooperative and attempts to elicit a comment from officials or view the damage were unsuccessful. Fontenelle says his men were called to the hotel about 11:30 Wednesday night.
Two Units from the Gros Islet Fire Service responded to the call – but the last resort call for assistance from fire officers necessitated backup. The Fire Chief says there is nothing wrong with the public attempting to extinguish fires, but insists the fire department must be called forthwith. The Smuggler’s Cove kitchen was burnt to a crisp and part of the dining area was destroyed in the blaze. The cost of damage has not been confirmed – but reports are it is about one million dollars.

The lost wages referred to by the Ministry’s PS is not the only lost wages watchmen want paid. Lawrence Poyotte says there is also the issue of overtime owed for over four years. All the watchmen called in sick the past two working days. During that time at least one school was burgled and equipment stolen. Poyotte says the watchmen did what they thought was necessary. The NWU represents every watchman employed with the Ministry. These employees work at every primary and secondary school on the island.

The head of the national taxi union is seething over comments made by the tourism minister about issuing warnings to tourists. Lucien Joseph says the minister is losing focus of his job in the industry. Allen Chastanet is reported to have said that leaflets will be issued to cruise passengers warning them to stay away from certain areas on the island when they come to visit. But Joseph says this reaction to a published report in a UK paper about the rape and assault of a British couple will not help the situation.

Joseph says St. Lucia does not have more crime than other countries, but still, those countries will not expose their internal problems like St. Lucia appears to be doing. The taxi union president says the minister’s statement will have repercussions for taxi drivers and other sectors of the economy. Joseph believes that with these statements, cruise companies will advise their passengers to participate in their tours which will driver taxis out of business.

The vocal taxi union president wants the minister to withdraw his statements and exercise more care when commenting on such sensitive issues. Joseph agrees that visitors have the right to know about the island to be safe, but the manner of informing them proposed by the tourism minister will be destructive to the fragile tourism industry.

The objective was to respond to a bomb threat at the ferry terminal, and officials of the Air and Sea Ports Authority say the exercise met its objectives. Fire, Police, medical and other emergency responders participated in the exercise at Port Castries Wednesday. Chief of Ports Police – Kennedy Francis says the full-scale simulations are part of international requirements for the ports to be conducted at least twice yearly. In 2004, the government appointed the Police Force as the designated authority for ensuring international standards at the ports.

Assistant Superintendent – Alexander Blanchard represented the Police to ensure that their requirement was fulfilled. The Ports Police Chief says despite a few hitches, the exercise was successful. SLASPA will send a report to the International Maritime Organisation in London informing of the completion of the exercise at Port Castries. That report will include the objectives of the simulation and the outcome of the exercise.

The Biodiversity Coordinator in the Ministry of Agriculture says biodiversity proponents are ready for action. Anita James was speaking at the final national consultation on an EU biodiversity management improvement systems project. The SFA project began in 2003 – the final consultation was held in Castries. James says Saint Lucians need to be educated on the importance of their biodiversity. To that end – public and private sector partners including NEMO were invited to this final consultation. An earlier meeting had been

held in Vieux-Fort in July. Wednesday’s consultation was held at the Pastoral Centre in Marisule. Over fifty people attended the meeting chaired by James and the Ministry of Agriculture.