Retired Senior Cop Urges Tougher Penalties For Gun Offences

A retired senior police officer has issued a stark warning about the urgent need for stronger penalties for firearm offences in Saint Lucia. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the veteran law enforcement official, now residing overseas, criticised the current system as ineffective and a strain on police resources, enabling a dangerous cycle of gun violence. Under current laws (The Firearms Amendment Act of 2021), individuals convicted of illegal firearm possession face fines ranging from $25,000 to $40,000. However,  according to the retired senior police officer, an estimated 80% of these fines remain unpaid, leading to repeated arrests and wasted resources. “A person can be convicted today, fined $40,000, and released,” the retired officer explained. “If they don’t pay, officers are sent out to rearrest them. It’s a cycle that wastes valuable time and resources.” Failure to pay fines typically results in a six-month prison sentence, yet most offenders serve only three to four months due to early release practice, the retired officer stated. This leniency has proven to be a weak deterrent, with many offenders reoffending shortly after their release, it was disclosed. The retired officer highlighted a recent case involving a young man who, after serving time for firearm...