“There Is No Established Gang Per Se In Saint Lucia!”

Crime was again at the center of discussion during Tuesday’s opposition United Workers Party (UWP) weekly briefing. Former Inspector with the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), Foster Chiquot, was present to give his historical account of the escalation of crime on the island, spanning his over 35-year-old career in the force, which he says began in 1989. Chiquot refuted current claims widely discussed amongst the public on crime in Saint Lucia, including perceptions that incidents are gang-related. The former inspector said, “To date, we have had very little success with the prosecution of gangs, because you and I both know, that while we hear what we hear on the street, of certain areas that are under the control of gangs, there is no established gang per se in Saint Lucia.” Chiquot aimed to debunk talk of the presence of rival gangs saying, “If you speak to the average police officer, he will tell you, “Yes [they’re] hearing the names”. The “six” and the “seven.” Now I understand there is “thirteen”…but if you go around and you ask persons, well, where are the gangs? Where do they live? Where do they operate from? There is no established system of the...