‘Watch Out!’ Garde Declares Zero Tolerance For Crime In 2025

As Saint Lucia prepares to enter the new year, Acting Commissioner of Police Verne Garde has issued a warning to lawbreakers across Saint Lucia, signaling a firm approach to crime and road safety. Addressing the public through the media, Garde’s message was unequivocal: “2025 is a different year for crime and road safety. And persons who are in conflict with the law have to watch out!” This stern declaration comes as the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) seeks to bolster its traffic department, following an alarming spike in road collisions in 2024. Saint Lucia has recorded over 1,000 accidents, many of which were fatal, including 22 road fatalities this year alone. To address this crisis, the RSLPF plans to increase personnel within its traffic unit, an effort Garde deems crucial to tackling the root causes of road accidents. “Expanding the Unit’s capacity is critical at this juncture,” he noted, emphasising the RSLPF’s commitment to both prevention and accountability. Since assuming office, Garde—formerly the director of Saint Lucia’s maximum-security prison—has made his zero-tolerance stance on crime abundantly clear. Garde’s statements echo the government’s broader efforts to improve public safety.  Last week, the Government of Saint Lucia launched a socially inclusive...