ST. LUCIA: VIOLENT CRIMES HIGHLIGHT POOR SECURITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 000700 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR CA/ACS/OCS, DS/ITA, DS/OSAC, DS/IP/WHA, WHA/CAR SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV PREL SMIG KCRM ST XL SUBJECT: ST. LUCIA: VIOLENT CRIMES HIGHLIGHT POOR SECURITY SITUATION REF: BRIDGETOWN 524 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: A series of violent crimes has drawn attention to St. Lucia's poor security situation, which has the potential to hurt this Caribbean nation's tourism- dependent economy. In the course of only a few weeks, several St. Lucians were killed, the nation's Roman Catholic Bishop was attacked, a shootout occurred at a popular beach that sent tourists running for cover, and American citizens were robbed by machete and shotgun wielding assailants. The Government of St. Lucia has said it is taking the necessary measures to insure the safety of tourists on the island, although the police have complained of a lack of resources that prevent them from effectively doing their job. Post expressed to the Government its concern over the crime situation in St. Lucia and may recommend toughening the language on security in the Consular Information Sheet. End summary. -------------- A Series of Spectacular Crimes -------------- ¶2. (U) St. Lucia has experienced a series of spectacular crimes in recent weeks that have drawn attention to the small island-state's poor security situation. In the first four months of 2006, the country has already had ten murders. These include the killing of a homosexual man whose body was found in March tied to a tree in what family members said was a hate crime. In April came the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy whose father believes he was killed for providing the police with information that led to the capture of a criminal. Gang-related violence spilled out of poor neighborhoods in April and into St. Lucia's main tourist area, Rodney Bay, where gangs exchanged shots in an incident that sent tourists diving for cover. Most shocking to many was the attack on the nation's Roman Catholic Bishop who narrowly escaped being killed by a knife-wielding assailant who is believed to be mentally unstable. -------------- American Citizens Robbed -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Groups of men armed with machetes and a shotgun robbed American citizens in two recent incidents at the same St. Lucia hotel. The first incident occurred in February at the Tikaye Village resort on the island's west coast when a group of five armed men attacked an American couple in their hotel room (reftel). The police arrested two suspects but later released them for lack of evidence. In early April, a nearly identical attack on a different American couple occurred at the same hotel. Police are investigating but have yet to find the assailants. Following the second attack, the Permanent Secretary in the St. Lucia MFA called the Ambassador to express his Government's concern over the incident and explain that the police were increasing patrols in tourist areas. This unprecedented action by the Government occurred before Post had even learned of the incident. -------------- Crimes Under Investigation -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The police are thoroughly investigating the crimes against Americans and have increased their patrols in the area where they took place, Assistant Police Commissioner Hermangild Francis told Conoff during a meeting held to express the USG's concern over these incidents. Francis explained that the police realize the importance of tourism to the St. Lucia economy and will do everything possible to prevent crimes against tourists. Solving crimes has proven difficult, however, as the police often find witnesses unwilling to testify against suspects. In the case of the February attack against the American tourists, for example, the hotel security guard who was tied up by the assailants refused to identify them out of fear for his safety. -------------- Police Short of Officers and Equipment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Police effectiveness is also hampered by a lack of BRIDGETOWN 00000700 002 OF 002 personnel caused by an annual attrition rate of 50 percent as trained officers leave St. Lucia for higher salaries on other Caribbean islands such as St. Maarten, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. Interestingly, the Assistant Commissioner complained that the USG is partly responsible for this high attrition rate, as some police officers who receive U.S. non- immigrant visas leave St. Lucia to find work in the U.S. or to transit the U.S. on their way to Bermuda and the Bahamas. As a result of attrition, only 32 of the 58 positions in the force's Criminal Investigations Unit are currently filled. (Note: According to press reports, the Government of St. Lucia will ask the UK to send officers from the Metropolitan Police to assist this beleaguered Caribbean force. End note.) ¶6. (SBU) A lack of equipment is another problem facing the police, who have an outdated fleet of 10-year-old vehicles that badly need replacement. The Assistant Commissioner is hopeful that the next Government budget will include funds for new vehicles; in the meantime the police rely on vehicles donated by corporate citizens. -------------- Police Downplay Shooting -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Police attempted to downplay the April shoot-out in the heart of St. Lucia's tourist district as a matter of rival gangs firing at each other, according to the British Resident Commissioner in St. Lucia, Kelvin Greene, who spoke to the police about this incident that several British citizens reported. Greene explained to Post that when the police told him that the shooting was gang-related this implied that he should not worry about the situation because British tourists were not the actual targets. The diplomat noted that the police presence in Rodney Bay and elsewhere in St. Lucia is typically nonexistent, and that the private security guards hired by hotels were not subject to background checks. -------------- Is Crime Really on the Rise? -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Americans who reside in St. Lucia complain about police ineptitude but generally feel safe, Conoff learned during recent discussions with American residents of the island. The Peace Corps country director reported, for example, that staff and volunteers living in St. Lucia have not been the victims of any serious crimes. Both Post's consular warden in St. Lucia and the director of St. Lucia's prison, long-time American residents, told Conoff that crime is not really on the rise. The prison director explained that there is a perception that crime is increasing because violent crimes receive a lot of attention in the press. The reality, he said, is that most crimes are committed by gang members against other gang members and not against innocent victims. Most of his prisoners are repeat offenders who spend time in jail, cannot find work when they are released, and revert to a life of crime. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Although Americans who reside in St. Lucia feel safe living there, recent events indicate that visitors to the island could become victims of crime. Post will continue to monitor the situation in St. Lucia and, if the current trend continues, may recommend modifications to the Consular Information Sheet warning Americans of the security situation. The British High Commission, likewise, has decided not to change its guidance for travelers at this time but may do so if further incidents occur. Such an action by the U.S. or UK is bound to encounter criticism from the Government, which appears to have attempted to pre- empt such a response when it called to inform Post of the latest incident involving Americans. St. Lucia's tourism- dependent economy is in danger if crime is not brought under control. The question remains how forcefully the Government will respond to the situation. KRAMER