Evaluating the Anti-Gang Act: The Impact of Limited Prosecutions

The Attorney General’s Chambers is actively assessing the Anti-Gang Act, aiming to enhance this legislation for improved effectiveness in combating crime. Although it was established with stringent penalties, including fines reaching EC$300,000 and maximum prison terms of 20 years for those in gang leadership roles, the law remains largely underused since its introduction. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has consistently identified considerable difficulties in enforcing this legislation within its current parameters, resulting in only a limited number of cases being advanced. Attorney General Leslie Mondesir addressed this issue during a recent Parliamentary session, confirming ongoing efforts to strengthen the act. “We are currently reviewing the outdated anti-gang legislation to enrich its provisions, enabling law enforcement to utilize it more effectively in the government's crime fighting initiatives,” Mondesir stated. Designed to reduce gang activity, the act criminalizes behaviors such as membership and recruitment, while providing courts with penalties, including significant fines and imprisonment for those engaged in gang activities.