St. Lucia's Prime Minister Condemns Shooting of Customs Officer

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre Wednesday condemned the attack on a Custom Officer, who was shot and injured on Tuesday

Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre (right) flanked by Customs and Police officials addressing employees of the Customs and Excise following the shooting“We are going to do whatever we can do …to ensure the protection of the Customs officers,” Pierre said after a meeting with workers at the Customs and Excise.

Pierre had earlier wrote on his social media Facebook page that “I strongly condemn the recent shooting of a dedicated Customs Officer, an individual who was simply carrying out their duty to protect our borders and ensure the safety of our communities.

“This act of violence is not only a senseless act but also an attack on the very fabric of law and order that holds our society together” he wrote.

The Comptroller of Customs and Excise, Sherman Emmanuel said that the unidentified  officer was recuperating after being shot while in a vehicle at Monchy, north of here, and denied reports that Customs Officers had taken industrial action.

He said the meeting on Wednesday was to allay the fears of staff.

“Essentially, the staff have concerns having experienced this situation with their colleague. So we had this impromptu meeting with the staff. The Prime Minister actually and the Commissioner thought it good to also join the meeting and we were so thankful that they were able to come and contribute to the meeting and help allay some of the concerns of our staff,” Emmanuel said.

In a statement, the Customs and Excise described the attack as “unprovoked and a cowardly act” saying that “the attempt on the life of one of our Customs Officers is of serious and immediate concern.

“The matter is the subject of an active investigation (and) notwithstanding, the Customs and Excise Department takes this opportunity to make known that any threat, harm, or attempt to harm any one of our officers pursuant to his/her duties will not be tolerated”.

It said it is committed to “pursuing any offence against our own to ensure that justice is done” and that with the “help of our colleagues in law enforcement, the Customs Department has pledged support to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force in ensuring the justice is duly served”.

The statement called on persons “who may have information in the matter to assist” the police in their investigation.