Brazilian United Nations soldiers go into a house during a military operation in the volatile neighbourhood of Bel Air, Haiti, last week. At least 250 Brazilian U.N. soldiers took part in the operation. - REUTERS
CASTRIES, CMC:
HOTELIERS IN St. Lucia have joined petroleum dealers on the island in calling on Government to seek outside help in the fight against crime.
Since Friday the dealers began closing their retails outlets at 6:00 p.m., four hours earlier, in protest over increasing attacks by criminals, who have already taken the lives of two proprietors.
Executive vice-president of the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA), Terrence Gustave, said that crime was the biggest single concern facing the vital tourism sector and despite the best efforts of all concerned, the problem not only remains but continues to escalate.
SEEKING OUTSIDE HELP
"We think the time has come for Government to seek outside help; its no shame to say that we need outside help, we are a small country we understand that and we have to bring in people who are better trained to fight crime," he said.
"Of the 34 homicides committed so far this year, how many have been solved? We need outside help and that is clear," he added.
NEW APPROACH TO PROBLEM
The SLHTA official said that hoteliers have invited the Cabinet, the police high command and other parties interested in the security of the state to a meeting this week to take a fresh look at combating the problem.
"The expectation is that finally a plan that works will be formulated and implemented," Gustave said.
"As an association we have previously offered help and provided support and we are convinced that now is the time to deal with the increasing crime facing the country as we cannot allow it to get any worse," he said.
"Every weekend there is at least one murder of some kind being committed in the country and we all feel that we have had enough of it and something has to be done," he added.
