Phillip J. Pierre, prime minister of St Lucia, announced on Saturday (March 11) that schools in Vieux Fort are set to resume today (March 13) after an upsurge in gang violence which resulted in seven deaths and the injury of a nine-year-old boy.

The prime minister said the necessary steps were being taken to control the situation in Vieux Fort, including working with the rural police and contacting the Regional Security System (RSS) and other assets to provide security support in the coming week.

“Twenty-four-hour patrol is being deployed in Vieux Fort. The police will be given more resources to assist in this upsurge in violence. Special operations will be conducted by the police and new legislation will be enacted to deal with the suppression of crime,“ he said.

Pierre also stressed the need for greater collaboration between residents and the security forces.

“It is time to act, and I ask for your support. There will be some difficult decisions to be made, and some strong actions will be taken to deal with these cowards and criminals,“ he said.

St Lucia’s prime minister also noted that he will be meeting the next day (March 12) with some civil society groups and business leaders to discuss the situation and seek solutions to the current upsurge in gang violence in Vieux Fort.