VZCZCXRO5855
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHWN #0700/01 1162056
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 262056Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2342
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1410
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE

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