Garde to Serve Another Year, Says Policing Plan 85 Per Cent Complete

The contract of Commissioner of Police Verne Garde has been extended for another year. And at the end of his initial six-month tenure, he has reported that his initial policing plan is 85 per cent complete, marking significant progress in strengthening the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF).

However, he acknowledged that the Force is at “a very delicate time in regards to its image” following the arrest of a veteran officer in connection with a now-recovered M16 rifle that went missing from a police station armoury last month.

Garde, who was appointed to the position on September 2, 2024, described his tenure so far as a “mammoth challenge” but said he has so far been able to improve the structure of the RSLPF.

“I came out with a plan which was relatively successful—85 per cent complete. This was, I would say, a mammoth challenge over the respective period,” he told St Lucia Times.

“I was able to bring some esprit de corps into the organisation where now some of the units and personnel are moving seamlessly for the landscape of national security to improve.”

Acknowledging that all organisations face institutional disruptions, Commissioner Garde pointed to the firearm theft case as one such challenge within the RSLPF.

Sergeant Charlemagne remains on remand over the disappearance of an M16 rifle from the Gros Islet Police Station armoury on February 15. Though declining to comment extensively to avoid prejudicing the case, Garde admitted that such incidents impact public confidence in the Force.

“Well, of course, the Royal Saint Lucia police force is currently in a very delicate time in regards to its image, and every act that redounds negatively for the organisation, it’s something that we should not condone as a people and as members of the royal saint lucia police force,” he said.

“Being in such a brittle and fragile state, we have to ensure that we do all we can to maintain a good national security climate and also a good image for the force. So generally, the recovery of that firearm, and also the arrest and charge of the particular individual has put us in a better footing.”

Garde said the RSLPF did all it could to recover the firearm “to ensure that the public is safer”. No details about the circumstances surrounding the recovery have been made public.

Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner emphasised the need for greater collaboration among law enforcement agencies, including Customs, the Bordelais Correctional Facility—at which he previously served as director—and private security services, to strengthen Saint Lucia’s national security.

“Every law enforcement agency… needs to step up the game to maintain a very good national security climate and a safer Saint Lucia…. When everybody comes on board, we will have a better national security product,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to the people of Saint Lucia for their trust, Garde stated, “The job I’m doing is very difficult, but I’m doing it with sincerity and fairness, and I will continue working hard for the people of Saint Lucia.”