With crime continuing to dominate national conversation, former police officer and United Workers’ Party candidate for Vieux Fort North, Callix Xavier, is raising new questions about the country’s approach to public safety and internal police decisions. His comments come amid ongoing concern over rising homicides and calls for stronger, more coordinated action.
Speaking on recent developments, Xavier criticised what he described as the absence of a clear and effective national strategy to address violent crime. He argued that the persistent rate of murders signals deeper systemic gaps in the country’s response.
“The high rate of murders in this country appears to continue unchecked, with no serious indication that the government has a coherent plan to address this matter,” Xavier said, adding that the current approach does not reflect viable long-term solutions.
He stressed that tackling crime requires more than enforcement alone, calling instead for a structured, multi-sectoral response. According to Xavier, meaningful progress depends on coordination between law enforcement, social services, education systems and community-based organisations, all aligned toward prevention and intervention.
The former officer also turned his attention to internal developments within the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, following the promotion of 92 officers across various ranks as outlined in the March 2026 Police Force Orders. While acknowledging that the move could signal an effort to strengthen leadership and operational capacity, he raised concerns about the transparency of the process.
“The recent promotions are indicative of an intention to strengthen leadership and operational effectiveness,” Xavier noted. However, he questioned whether established procedures were adhered to, pointing specifically to the absence of publicly communicated vacancy notices.
“There was a lack of vacancy notice. There is no clear indication that this requirement was met,” he claimed.
Xavier further suggested that key oversight mechanisms may have been bypassed, raising concerns about the role of the Promotions Committee in ensuring impartiality.
“The second issue is bypassing the Promotions Committee to ensure impartial oversight and to prevent unilateral decision making,” he said, adding that the perceived absence of independent review raises questions about the integrity of the process.
His remarks add to a broader national debate around crime, policing, and governance, with increasing calls from various stakeholders for greater transparency, accountability, and a more cohesive strategy to address public safety challenges.
