The death of four-year-old Rikki Samuel in a vehicular accident in Vieux Fort on Saturday, October 25th, 2025, has reignited national concern over road safety and prompted renewed calls for urgent intervention.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, during the weekly pre-cabinet press conference on Monday, announced that immediate discussions will take place with law enforcement officials to strengthen enforcement and protect the nation’s most vulnerable road users.
“I’m going to discuss these measures with the police, and very soon, announcements will be made on the way forward,” the Prime Minister said.
“We can’t allow that carnage on the streets of Saint Lucia. We know most of our drivers are not responsible, but the few who are causing the mayhem; that has to stop.”
Pierre expressed his deep sorrow following the tragic incident, extending sympathy to the grieving family.
“I want to express my deepest and sincere condolences to the relatives,” he said. “I can imagine how they feel, for a four-year-old to die in an accident. A four-year-old just beginning, you know, it’s really sad. Words can’t express how these parents and these relatives would feel.”
Education Minister Shawn Edward also visited the family at St. Jude Hospital shortly after the tragedy, describing the profound impact of the loss on the education community.
“I must tell you that the entire education fraternity is saddened by that eventuality,” he said.
“I took it on my own as Minister on Saturday. I suspended everything I had to do to go to Vieux Fort, to the hospital, to see the family, and to lend some degree of comfort during that period.”
The fatal accident, which has shaken the nation, follows a series of recent crashes that have claimed multiple lives and left several others injured.