- ‘Gun Amnesty’ portrays “more fear than incentive to surrender illegal firearms and to renew expired licences.”
- The process for renewing a firearms licence is straightforward and prescribed by law. You don’t need a gun amnesty to do that! It projects incompetence!
- “Why would an unlicensed firearm holder expose him/herself for no incentive? It’s like going to confession without getting absolution for the sins committed.”
- What are the achievements of the RSLPF, and how has forward guidance demonstrated law enforcement confidence in the future of the Saint Lucian economy?
- RSLPF enforcement of a strict zero-tolerance policy after ‘Gun Amnesty’ is an intellectual illusion of intrusive policing.
By Caribbean News Global 
CASTRIES, St Lucia – In the current environment of gang-related gun violence and reprisal warfare (four homicides in 2026 as of publication), police reports of 70 homicides in 2025, the introduction of a ‘Gun Amnesty’ is largely predicated as an event-driven pretext, that does not highlight transformative action. On the aspect of relevance, no preface was established that is material in law and order [dominance]. The so-called ‘Gun Amnesty’ and its implementation are abstract to St Lucia’s economic security.
- The RSLPF must work towards much-needed improvements to transparency and accountability.
According to the Royal St Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), Saint Lucia recorded the lowest homicide rate in five years, giving credit to investigative and targeted operations. However, police reports ostensibly explain why the governance and administration of the RSLPF, supported by a cadre of Gazetted officers, are ineffective.
The RSLPF has tabled no record of accomplishment on restricting human trafficking, immigration, border enforcement, and illegal aliens. Hitherto, at the police press conference, January 15, 2026, collaboration was highlighted with the Financial Intelligence Authority, Customs and Excise, and International Partners, including increased government investment in policing resources.
Suffice it to note, the RSLPF is abstract on achievements from collaboration, technical and financial assistance, to wit:
- What are the achievements of the RSLPF, and how has forward guidance demonstrated law and order confidence in the future of the Saint Lucian economy?
- How has the RSLPF curtailed negative impacts, improved security guard rails, and demonstrated improvements in law and order to impact the ‘future of the Saint Lucian economy’?
The hypothesis that a week-long opportunity for individuals to hand over illegal weapons before the RSLPF enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy is an intellectual illusion of intrusive policing.
The shock and awe of one-off enforcement events and a non-encompassing approach equate to superficial enhanced visibility. Saint Lucia’s security preoccupations must adopt a sustained anti-crime strategy, modern policing
The January 19 commencement of a gun amnesty attempts to portray “more fear than incentive to surrender illegal firearms and to renew expired licences,” said a former police official.
An observer added: “Why would an unlicensed firearm holder expose him/her self for no incentive? It’s like going to confession without getting absolution for the sins committed.”
In actuality, the gun amnesty referenced no basis in law, which it should have with explanatory notes. An incentive is lacking to address the serious social and economic risks of an unprecedented threat to transnational crime and widespread illegal gun access in Saint Lucia. The undercurrent to this is the illicit drug trade that is embedded with firearms and an underperforming legacy police force.
On the governance and administrative side, the RSLPF should be knowledgeable about the full listing of firearm holders and their current status. The RSLPF, likewise, should be fully conversant on the issuance of firearm licences.
The process for renewing a firearms licence is straightforward and prescribed by law. You don’t need a gun amnesty to do that! It projects incompetence!
- You cannot govern what you cannot measure – applies to the gun amnesty.
In the repudiated practice of a non-organisational RSLPF to proactive planning, protocol and orderly procedure have largely continued to embrace event-driven police governance.
With the colonial legacy of the RSLPF operating in a modern world, calls to revive are unworkable. This highlights the fundamental dilemma of “living arm’s length,” in contrast to contemporary policing doctrines.
In conclusion to the article, St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’ reinvents ‘old tools fighting modern criminality’ – it is not without doggedness that there are many nationals in possession of unlawful firearms and ammunition.
The need for a gun appears beneficial to the social and economic fabric of the Saint Lucian society. Besides this, there are communal and social pressures, the illegal firearm trade, the ostensible firearm rental programme, and hit men for hire. Similarly, there may be gun owners with expired firearm licences and/or weapons held for another person.
- Will the seven-day gun amnesty attain the security outcomes, fighting contemporary criminality?
As Saint Lucia’s security preoccupations continue, public education does not currently exist. In particular, the criminal code, storage, display, transportation, hunting and firearms regulation.
St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’ reinvents ‘old tools fighting modern criminality’
