Prime Minister Philip J Pierre has strongly defended his administration’s record on national security, pointing to significant investments in police infrastructure, equipment, and welfare as his government commissioned the Northern Police Headquarters on Thursday, February 19.
Addressing the gathering, Pierre asserted that his government’s commitment to law enforcement is both substantial and measurable.
“So, this government’s history of investment in the police and national security is clear. It’s this government that gave the police the best, the best set of incentives, allowances, salary, equipment, vehicles,” he said.
He highlighted major capital expenditure across the island, noting that “as we speak, we’ve just spent 3.9 million dollars on the Vieux Fort police headquarters. We spent 4.5 million dollars on the custody suites, and every policeman will tell you that when they arrested somebody, there was no place to put them.”
Pierre outlined a series of infrastructure upgrades, including repairs and relocations of key stations.
“We built the Vieux Fort, we repaired the Vieux Fort Divisional Headquarters. We relocated the Anse La Raye Police Headquarters. We spent $162,000 on the Canaries Police Station,” he said.
He also pointed to ongoing and future projects aimed at strengthening national security capabilities.
“As we speak, we are building radar facilities at Moule a Chique in Vieux Fort, costing nearly half a million dollars. And we are in the process, and I will not say when, of considering the construction of new police headquarters in Castries,” Pierre revealed.
Beyond infrastructure, the Prime Minister emphasized investments in operational resources, including vehicles, marine assets, and protective gear.
“We have given the police most vehicles, jet skis. We are in the process of speaking about buying a boat,” he stated. “We have given them bulletproof vests, hoping that every policeman will have a bulletproof vest, every policeman. This costs over $3 million.”
He disclosed that further payments were being made to support this effort, noting, “Up to today, this morning, we are going to be paying $952,000 to a supplier for bulletproof vests. And these are facts that can be checked.”
Pierre stressed that the evolving security landscape requires a modern, well-equipped police force.
“So, we are in a completely different national security environment, completely different. And the police have to be equipped, the police have to have the necessary training to deal with what we are dealing with,” he said.
At the same time, he underscored the importance of professionalism and accountability within the force.
“But most of all, the police must take themselves and their jobs seriously. That is very important,” he added.
The Prime Minister also addressed concerns about political interference, asserting that his administration has allowed the police to operate independently.
“I can also see that this Prime Minister, this Minister of National Security, has interfered the least in the operations of the police in Saint Lucia. I say that without any fear or favor,” Pierre said.
“That may be good, or that may be bad. But I have interfered the least because I believe and I have the confidence that when a man or woman decides to be a policeman or policewoman, they should have a certain level of integrity.”
The remarks come as the government signals continued investment in law enforcement, positioning national security as a central pillar of its development agenda.