The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force officers were constantly present during the four-day homecoming celebrations held in honour of famed sprinter Julien Alfred from September 24 to September 27.
Throughout the week of activities, bystanders commented on the effort by the officers to ensure the homecoming was incident-free despite the frenzy that followed Alfred at each venue.
“I have to say to you—sometimes we can be critical—but you see the police, they were exceptional, they really were,” Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information Ernest Hilaire said at The Harbor Club on Thursday, September 26, where Alfred made her Tourism Ambassadorship for Saint Lucia official.
The minister went on to specifically laud the police for their harmonic handling of the crowds attempting to engage with the Olympic medallist at every turn.
“… Everybody wants a piece of her, everybody’s grabbing her, everybody wants a selfie with her. She likewise wants to hug everybody, take a selfie with everybody, and let me tell you, the officers had to find that right balance between protecting her and also making sure people have access to her,” Hilaire noted.
The minister joked, “I literally followed them. If you see some of the videos you can actually see me trying to be police officer. After a couple sessions I gave up. When I got home my body was battered and bruised, I can imagine how the officers feel. But they really did phenomenal, and we need to say thank you.”
During the concert held at the Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium on September 27—Julien Alfred Day, one audience member told St. Lucia Times, “… it’s very crazy. She’s literally a celebrity right now in Saint lucia as you can see how the crowd is… they’re doing an exceptional job.”
Lucius Small, Inspector in charge of the Special Services Unit (SSU) told St. Lucia Times that the results were possible due to pre-scheduled briefings, planning, and a “great effort from everyone” to execute their duties.
He said, “It has been a first experience for me, of that magnitude… we were prepared, especially the members of the SSU, eight of us, we are well trained. Yes, it was a challenge but at the end of the day, we did our best to make sure of her safety and the safety of all the people who were following the motorcade, following the rally… executing [our] duties is for the safety of Everybody.”
