Minisiter for Crime Prevention and Micoud North MP, Jeremiah Norbert, on Tuesday raised alarm in Parliament over the disturbing trend of criminals reoffending while already on bail for firearm-related crimes, warning that such cases undermine the morale of police officers and send the wrong signal to the public.
“Too often, we see the police rearresting individuals who are already on bail for firearm offenses, only to see them reoffend within days or weeks, and in most cases, for even more serious offenses,” Norbert said, pointing to ongoing examples currently straining law enforcement.
The former police officer expressed frustration on behalf of the men and women of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force who, he noted, sacrifice their safety and family life in pursuit of justice, only to watch suspects walk free and return to the streets within days.
“It is demotivating for a policeman to leave his family at home, put his life at risk to go out there, pursue criminals, arrest them, and then within two or three days of being arrested for firearms or ammunition, we see them back in the streets,” he lamented.
Norbert was careful not to assign blame squarely to the judiciary or the prosecution but maintained that the revolving door of justice creates frustration for law enforcement.
“I think it’s very unfair,” he said. “We don’t just wake up one morning and decide to make firearm penalties stiffer. That is after consultation, after discussion, after getting pressure from the very men and women whom we represent.”
He emphasized that amendments to arms legislation brought before Parliament are meant to reflect the will of the people, not to dictate to the judiciary. However, he argued that the current handling of firearm offenders weakens public confidence and diminishes the value of the police force’s work.
“You can give the police all the resources, you can build them the best facilities, but if after they do the hard work the anticipated result is not there, then it is not motivating,” Norbert declared. “The reward for a police officer is not always monetary. It is finding value in the work they do by ensuring that justice is seen to be done.”
Calling for better alignment between legislation and enforcement, Norbert urged that the administration of justice should reflect the intent of lawmakers and the society they represent.
“Moving forward, Mr. Speaker, we cannot continue to see the laws being administered in a way that does not signal the intention of the executive and the people of this country,” he declared.
