Police Commissioner Vern Garde has announced new initiatives aimed at making information from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) more accessible to the public.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Garde said that while monthly police briefings have been consistent, more needs to be done to reach Saint Lucians. As part of this effort, the RSLPF will launch a new broadcast called ‘RSLPF News at Five’
The program will air on the Force’s platforms at 5:00 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the first instance. Garde said the timeslot was chosen to avoid competing with mainstream media broadcasts.
“This may be a consistent way to reach the public,” Garde explained. “We will provide that information so the media can also pick up on some of the stories.”
The Commissioner emphasized the importance of public awareness, recounting that some citizens remain unaware of key developments, including his own appointment more than a year ago. “We have a responsibility as Saint Lucians to know what is happening around us,” he said.
Garde also reaffirmed the RSLPF’s commitment to transparency, thanking both the public and the media for their role in relaying information. At the same time, he urged talk show hosts and commentators to verify information before broadcasting it, noting that inaccurate narratives can undermine public confidence.
“One of the basic things we should do is validation,” Garde said, encouraging media figures to reach out to him or his senior officers for confirmation of facts. He highlighted recent reductions in major crimes, including a 40 percent drop in robberies and burglaries, and an overall 16 percent decrease in reported crime this year.
As part of his outreach strategy, Garde said he and members of his senior command would begin making appearances on talk shows, allowing the public to ask direct questions. “Moving forward, I will do a bit of that because I think it’s necessary,” he stated. “I want at least two members of my senior command on the talk shows once a week.”
The Commissioner added that these measures form part of a broader strategy to strengthen communication between the police, the media, and the public in the fight against crime.
