Antigua Cops Awarded For Saint Lucia Tour Of Duty

Sixteen Antigua and Barbuda police officers received badges of honour this week for supporting a Regional Security System (RSS) mission in Saint Lucia. The mission was in response to a surge in deadly gun violence in the town of Vieux Fort. In March 2023, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre called for help from the RSS after an alarming spate of killings. Pierre, responsible for National Security, also unprecedentedly declared Vieux Fort an escalated crime zone, giving the police expanded powers to fight crime. Antigua and Barbuda’s Deputy Governor General Governor, Sir Clare Roberts, praised his country’s police officers for their role in Saint Lucia between March and August 2023. Roberts spoke Tuesday at a Government House ceremony that fourteen of the sixteen honourees attended. Deputy Police Commissioner Everton Jeffers described the officers as heroes. “it takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle. We salute these brave men who answered the call of duty, stood firm in adversity and exemplified heroism,” Jeffers stated. Sergeant James Charles, who spoke on behalf of the honourees, reaffirmed their commitment to service. He said the honourees and other officers willing to serve but not get an opportunity...