As we go to press, we are informed by normally reliable sources, beleaguered police commissioner Vernon Francois has succumbed to official pressure and “retired in the public interest.” In return, the STAR has also been informed, for his cooperation Francois will receive a $5 million handshake and several other perks.
Taking over his office will be Severin Moncherry, a veteran with some 27 years under his police belt.
Moncherry’s substantive position is superintendent of police, although he has for the last six months or so been acting deputy police commissioner. The inside word is “he is not quite satisfied he is ready for the responsibilities associated with his new position, bearing in mind the extenuating circumstances now engulfing the force.”
Those “extenuating circumstances” have everything to do with the 2011 lead-up to the IMPACS investigation, the result of which has been before the DPP for several months without official comment.
According to Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, the IMPACS report alleges “willful blindness” on the part of then acting police commissioner Francois. Moreover, that the investigators had confirmed the existence of a death list that the PM claimed he had seen with his own eyes. Francois has claimed the contrary, that there never was a hit list.
Meanwhile, the acting commissioner Errol Alexander, who has been holding the fort since Francois was sent on accrued leave by the government several months ago, has been off-island a full week.
We have also been reliably informed that the Kenny Anthony government has offered at least two other leading police officers near-irresistible retirement packages but they have not yet accepted.
There has been widespread speculation, ever since the prime minister revealed “politicians, government officials and businessmen” were fingered by the IMPACS report, about the future of police commissioner Vernon Francois and other leaders of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.
Our source adds: “The plan was to go through the motions of advertising the position of police commissioner but no surprise if, once again, things should happen in reverse order. This is still Saint Lucia.”
For certain lucky Looshans, Coral Gables is a home away from home! Read More
For those who can only talk about who I horn or who horn me, if you wish to make that… Read More
Kenny Anthony described the new St Jude as Saint Lucia’s most expensive unfinished project! Read More
St. Lucia deserves better! The people deserve leadership that prioritises hospitals over political theatrics, real development over cash-for-votes gimmicks, national… Read More
Maya Angelo advises that when people tell and show you who they are, you should believe them. Over their years… Read More
Our most important job, as a government and as regular citizens, is to bring about a change in the general… Read More
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. No personally identifiable information is stored.
View Comments
FRANCOIS BROUGHT THE CRIME DOWN
ONLY US WAR MONGERS HAD HIM MESSED UP.
HOPE HE ENJOYS HIS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR HANDSHAKE.
ps: Vernon should form a citizens vigilante group
which work independent of the government and go after the bad guys.
you know kind of deeep under cover??
What?? who shot this bad guy?
Answer:I eh know.You know?