Darby Etienne MA Diplomacy
“As for a man wandering from the way of insight, he will rest in the very congregation of those impotent in death” – Proverbs 21:16
Dear Sir,
Universal greetings!
It is with deep despair I write this letter to your office. My purpose for writing is twofold. First, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to you Honourable Prime Minister and you Honourable Leader of the Opposition for taking the time to attend the funeral of my dear sister Leandra Garnier on Saturday, 9th February 2013. A sister so sweet, so loving; the one person who was not bashful to display affection publicly, her love ran deep and passionate and practiced openly at every opportunity.
The late Simone Leandra Wallace Garnier
In life there are always challenging situations that compel a person to deal with harsh realities and God knows that I have had many of those. As the saying goes, only the paranoid survive, – so, when I fainted and had to be hospitalised in London on 31st January 2013 whilst attending a meeting with an investor on affordable homes for St Lucia, I should have known something terrible would follow. That is synchronicity for you.
On my release I was getting into bed 2 am London time, 10 pm St Lucian time, that very moment my sister Leandra was brutally murdered. Could you imagine the effects of such devastating news at such a fragile moment?
Secondly, while all the cries of support from the nation have been comforting, the loss and domino effect is profound. I am now a sister short, her children without a mother, her brothers and sisters without a sister and her father without a daughter.
Together, we have suffered a great loss and we are not alone. I search for answers; I search for someone to blame; I search for reasons but all I come up with is WHY? How could someone do this to another human being? We join a number of others who share in the grief from the aftermath of incomprehensible senseless killings, to name but a few families:
Anthanasius Seon La Borde,
Jane Tipson,
Marcia Philbert Jules,
Michael Fedee,
Felix Baptiste,
Kerissa Maximin,
Jason Edward,
Gerald “Lenon” James and Alan Fernarn
This list is not exhaustive and many others that have experienced the pain of having loved ones slain by the wicked and evil which has befallen our Island, St Lucia. The tagline ‘Simply Beautiful’ is appearing less and less appealing.
Meaningless killings are becoming a norm in our paradise and this is an appeal for something to be done to stop them. The country needs our leaders to step up to the plate with courage and the wisdom which adorns their office of duty to citizens to rid the country of the conditions which spawn these atrocities. We need some resolute action.
British police being sworn in at the Royal St Lucia Police Force. Photo courtesy rslpf.com
Though we must welcome the contribution of the visiting British Police officers on sabbatical, it cannot be left solely to them to put right our crime problem. Your Honourable Prime Minister I have some major queries. Have you addressed any of the advice and recommendations from your Director of Special Initiatives the ex commissioner of police?
When are you going to bolster and implement some organisational cultural change among our home grown police forces? It is possible to establish an independent complaints commission to ensure and uphold the integrity of the police? Are you going to heed the words of your very own police officers who say they can’t fight crime wars as law abiding policemen, but as soldiers? In addition it is possible to draw on the wealth of policing and soldiering talent from the Diaspora.
In contrast to the UK with its fair amount of crime and criminals I can still be at peace knowing that the loud bang from outside is usually fireworks. Further, should something happen, I can rest assured that when I dial the emergency police, they will investigate and there will be some resolution. Perpetrators will be apprehended and brought to justice, and investigations undertaken with extreme seriousness starting from the crime scene.
What has happened to us? When did the disregard and disrespect for the law and legal system go awry? Currently, my apprehension runs deeper regarding visiting my country of birth because the sound of gunshot would be heard within 7 days of my arrival, compared to never hearing a gunshot noise in London in 27 years.
It feels like there is a quiet guerrilla revolution going on, on the Island and you have no idea what the demands are, neither for what causes this war to keep escalating. The story of the three monkeys (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil) is meant to showcase truth, hope, and morality, today in St Lucia it is becoming the by-line for crime.
- Director of Special Initiatives Former Police Commissioner Ausbert Regis. Photo courtesy news.stluciastar.com
Violent crime is a virulent disease that has a tendency to spread without regard to class and community. When it hits, we are left to wonder how it could happen to us? Furthermore, regardless of who you are when it hits your doorstep it will be just as painful. My pain is everybody’s pain and vice versa, not the pain of the SLP or UWP or any political party.
The ‘bobo’ pain cannot be left to fester or ignored nor be repressed; we need to remove the rose (although a sweet flower) coloured glasses – it is something that together we must get under control. Enough is enough!! St Lucia ‘simply beautiful’ must grab the stern; live up to our unique national anthem. As you may well be aware the fish rots from the head first and we don’t want the stench to permeate the essence of beautiful St Lucia.
To quote the famous former president – ‘ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country’ and I am determined to take a stand on this because I am not prepared to continue seeing families go through this over and over and over again. Again, I am asking sir, what will you do?
As a member of the UK Diaspora I am at your service.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely
