“This dog embodies a lot of things all together. It is not the last one,” remarked French Ambassador, Francis Etienne, as the French Government donated a second K-9 to the RSLPF on Monday.
The handover marks a deepening of bilateral cooperation between Saint Lucia and France, particularly through their ongoing security collaboration. Ambassador Etienne underscored the importance of solidarity between nations in strengthening regional security, despite financial challenges.
“We are happy to be here in Saint Lucia, and we want to foster links one way or another. We are not asking you to do more and we would do less, we are actually doing much more in Martinique and Guadalupe,” said Ambassador Etienne.
Etienne also emphasised France’s increasing investment in regional security assets, highlighting enhancements made in Martinique and Guadeloupe. These include the deployment of drones, radar systems, additional personnel, and cutting-edge equipment, backed by strong commitment from France’s Ministry of Home Affairs.
Police Commissioner, Verne Garde, welcomed the donation as part of a broader strategic alignment with the French, citing increased cooperation in training, extradition processes, and intelligence sharing.
“This is another big step for us. We’ve seen a major relationship being further bonded with the French… and now, today, we have a second K-9 joining the ranks of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.”
Commissioner Garde also revealed plans to pilot an “amphibious approach” to policing, which he says is an initiative aimed at enhancing law enforcement presence across land and sea in key coastal areas. The Marigot Police Station has been selected as the testing ground for this integrated model.
“We want to bring in what we call an amphibious approach to police management. If the pilot is successful, we’re looking to replicate the initiative in January and potentially expand it across other vulnerable zones.”
The innovative strategy is expected to improve crime prevention and maritime surveillance.
