‘Restore Confidence In The Law!’

Amid what appears to be a national consensus that the courts are delivering judicial slaps on the wrist for some serious crimes, the President of the Saint Lucia National Youth Council (SLNYC) has called for a change. Yaniqueca Jean-Bart William spoke during a St. Lucia Times interview, against the backdrop of an alarming spike in homicides – 53 so far for the year. Many of the homicides involve young people as victims and perpetrators. The SLNYC President suggested the perception of minimal penalties for some crimes could be one factor contributing to criminal activity. “For example, you’ll hear people say, “Oh, I can pay money and just go and sit at Bordelais (Correctional Facility) for you,” Jean-Bart William stated, referencing court fines for certain offences. She described such an attitude as ridiculous. The NYC President asserted that people should not want the experience of going to prison. “When you hear a person say that, it means there are some flaws in the law that we need to fix. I am not saying if somebody kills you need to execute them. I don’t believe in taking someone’s life,” Jean-Bart William told St. Lucia Times. Nevertheless, she suggested that getting away lightly...