UWP Demands Tough-On-Crime Approach From Government

Monday afternoon’s brazen shooting has angered the leaders of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), who are calling for a tougher stance on crime from the government and law enforcement. Jaheim Papius of Babonneau was gunned down at Derek Walcott Square in Castries while another man was in critical condition. The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 pm. Speaking on Tuesday, UWP political leader Allen Chastanet said criminals have become too emboldened, and Monday’s incident could have resulted in the loss of numerous lives. “Yesterday’s incident in Derek Walcott Square is too harsh of a reminder to all of us that all is not well in this country. You heard the story, it’s not for me to say, of a man taking his son to get registered and how easily the stray bullets could have either hit him or his son?” He said. Saint Lucia recorded 75 homicides in 2023, 70 of which were classified as murders, four police-related shooting deaths, and one unclassified death. Seventy-two homicides were recorded in 2022, with 66 being murders, 4 being police-related deaths, and two being unclassified. In 2021, there were 75 recorded homicides, 70 of which were murders, 2 were police-related deaths, and three...