The UWP administration is aggressively pursuing reforms to the Royal St.Lucia Police Force. Part of the plans is the establishment of a border patrol agency. National Security Minister Hermangild Francis firmly believes this is a necessity.
Prime Minister Allen Chastanet had indicated that the Customs and Excise Department be converted into a Border Control Unit that will work in tandem with the Immigration Department and the Marine Unit.
Senator Francis said the ultimate plan is to separate this unit from the police. He said if the Marine Unit did not fall under the Police Force, they would have still been receiving assistance from the United States (US) government.
Francis, a former deputy police commissioner, said he had always advocated for the Marine Unit to be a stand along entity and serve as a coast guard for Saint Lucia. However, cost and feasibility are two important factors.
The Golden Hope Hospital has been earmarked as the site for the new Police Headquarters.
But Minster Francis has said that building a new Police Headquarters will take some time, explaining also that the US funded Marine Unit building is already expensive as it stands.
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