Anti-child abuse organisation pleased with St Lucia PM

The prime minister of St Lucia has been praised by a St Lucian social organisation after announcing plans to introduce a sex offender registry.

Speak Out St Lucia (SOS), which in March 2016 called for a national consultation on the issue, believe this system will be a “critical tool” in fighting these serious crimes.

“Many individuals and groups, over the years, have highlighted the numerous cases of rape and child sexual abuse which have caused grave concern and alarm,” SOS said in a statement.

“In the past years this situation has been highlighted even further with the use of social media which has resulted in an acute sensitisation of the population which has led to the coming forward of many victims.”

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet’s proposal comes after leader of the opposition St Lucia Labour Party, Philip J Piere, led a symposium on crime.

A sex offender registry was one of the recommendations that came out of the 24 November gathering.

SOS said they were “please to note” that Grenada was making changes.