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- “No guns were turned in” ~ Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Luke Defreitas, RSLPF.
- Caribbean News Global (CNG) is not surprised. We continue to be on point and persuasively accurate in our knowledgeable analysis.
By Caribbean News Global 
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Reporting on the Leslie Land Road and Chaussee Road brazen daylight shooting, March 25, 2026, Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP) Luke Defreitas, announced, “No guns were turned in.”
January 19 to January 23, and January 26 to January 28, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) launched a gun amnesty, part and parcel of a “new plan for 2026-27” described as a strategic starting point rather than an end in itself.
At the RSLPF press conference on January 15, 2026, assistant commissioner of police Luke Defreitas advised that the gun amnesty is not a “cash for gun” programme. In addition, surrendered firearms are subject to forensic examination, ballistic testing and appropriate recourse.
Paramount to reports and articles, Caribbean News Global (CNG) is not surprised that “No guns were turned in,” as we continue to be on point and persuasively accurate in our knowledgeable analysis.
St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’ reinvents ‘old tools fighting modern criminality’
On the fundamentals, CNG published two articles and one editorial.
January 17, 2026, Caribbean News Global (CNG) highlighted that, ‘St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’ reinvents ‘old tools fighting modern criminality’, stating …” the counteraction to fighting with ancient tools, to simply interchange prohibited firearms, ammunition, or related items, that is usually tied to some type of reward program, has generally resulted in the re-purchase of newly-fangled firearms and accessories.”
- In this case, “no guns were turned in.” Unlicensed firearm holders messaged that they’re not interested.
St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’ immaterial in law and order, abstract to the St Lucian economy
January 19, 2026, Caribbean News Global (CNG) further noted that ‘St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’ immaterial in law and order, abstract to the St Lucian economy.’
In the article, an observer added, “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.”
The article continued:
“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.”
St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’: An intellectual illusion of intrusive policing
February 2, 2026, Caribbean News Global (CNG) editorial argued, ‘St Lucia police ‘Gun Amnesty’: An intellectual illusion of intrusive policing.’
“In line with the 2024 article ‘St Lucia at the mercy of criminals’ – the RSLPF needs the right skills and clear policing guidelines.
“The need for managerial and technical talent with components from logistics, advanced tactical training, specialised unit deployment, RSLPF News at Five (police report as news), customer service, administration, operational efficiency and corporate police strategy cannot wait.”
“The RSLPF must expand its security influence and knowledge, trends across industry platforms to global acceptable standards. The goal must be to become a powerful police force/service that redefines – security guards, escort services, special off-duty officers and watchmen.
“The RSLPF must migrate from event governance and one-off enforcement – gun amnesty, 8-4 police presence in limited areas, hit-and-miss drug bust and poor police prosecutions.”
RSLPF primitive state
It is the professional view that Saint Lucia’s national security apparatus must evolve. A new police commissioner cannot solve a colonial vestiture of incompetence and moral decay that is guided by the political establishment. In addition, taxpayers’ funding and external support to the RSLPF has not revitalised an embattled colonial derelict.
The investment does not reflect a coordinated security apparatus with positioning to meet evolving security demands. The RSLPF should be disbanded. A new police force conducive to modern policing is a paramount security investment.
Realistically, assistant commissioner of police with responsibility for the central division, Defreitas, along with the RSLPF have “learned some valuable lessons” from the empty collection boxes, resulting in “ No guns were turned in,” to which:
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- The gun amnesty, “as a diagnostic tool,” was flawed, from concept to the realism of the current security situation.
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- The lesson: “The criminal elements chose to remain illegally armed, outweighing the fear of prosecution,” speaks to a revolving justice system, soft legislation and the lack of command, control and enforcement by the RSLPF.
According to ACP Defreitas: “ We now have a clearer map of the psychological landscape of our streets. This amnesty was a necessary test of our community’s readiness to be disarmed. The amnesty was a final, clear crossroad, a bridge back to legality that has now been retracted.”
This is spurious given the lack of intelligence, training and basic command and control on the streets of Saint Lucia, per the 2024 article ‘St Lucia at the mercy of criminals’ – the RSLPF needs the right skills and clear policing guidelines.
Police progress report
Police reports 18 homicides, 60 percent of these lives were taken with the pullover trigger. Nine homicides have already been solved this year, and 15 individuals were pursued, arrested and are currently facing the weight of the law for these crimes. (Civilian reports revealed 20 homicides as of March 24, 2026.)
ACP Defreitas announced that “prior to the amnesty, the RSLPF had already seized six firearms off our streets. Since the amnesty ended and our grace period closed, we have moved with renewed intensity, seizing ten additional firearms.”
Execution of duties
“We have moved into a phase of heightened proactive enforcement.” He further directed: “We will be in the spaces where you hide, and we will be relentless in our pursuit of those who value a piece of cold metal over a human life,” said ACP Defreitas. “Those who chose to keep the illegal firearms did so with full knowledge of the path they were taking. You have made your choice. Now the RSLPF will make ours. To those still holding illegal weapons, put them down now or prepare to face the full unyielding force of the state. We will no longer ask. We will act.”
Sign of exhaustion
“We have given the criminals the chance to walk away. Now it is our job to ensure that those who refuse that chance face justice. The amnesty was the final warning. The mandate is clear.”
RSS Security chiefs meeting vital to confronting security challenges
