Opposition spokesman on Home Affairs Dr. Robert Lewis (right) says government must step in to solve the impasse prompted by the perceived lack of performance by Acting Police Commissioner John Broughton (left).
CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC - The opposition St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) is calling on the government to intervene in the ongoing impasse within the island’s police force.

Opposition spokesman on Home Affairs Dr. Robert Lewis said security in the country could be jeopardised as a result of the standoff between the Acting Police Commissioner John Broughton and the Police Welfare Association (PWA) which has called for the police chief to be removed by Friday.

The PWA wants Prime Minister Stephenson King to dismiss the Englishman, claiming that his leadership has led to a decline in morale within the force, but the St. Lucian leader has already dismissed the call.

The situation worsened earlier this week when Broughton transferred two senior PWA officials, including President Verne Guard, to police stations in the rural areas.

Lewis said the Prime Minister must quickly resolve the issue since the transfer of the two men was only an attempt to transfer the problems of the force and did not seek to have them resolved.

"He may have created a little more instability because this is not related to a political issue; this is an issue about our democracy," Lewis said.

“The police, as I have been saying lately, is an agency that protects our democracy and if there are signs that the police are not settled then it means our country is not settled either.

"It seems to me that the Prime Minister at this time is more concerned about protecting his own survival as head of the government, and as a result the situation with the police is not handled appropriately," Lewis added.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a statement dismissing claims that Broughton had failed to carry out his duties.
 

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