CASTRIES, St. Lucia, MC—Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre has named former deputy speaker Jeremi Jeremiah Norbertr to the Office of the Prime Minister, where he will be responsible for crime prevention and persons with disabilities.
In addition, Norbert will also assume responsibilities for Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour, and Gender Affairs” until further notice” as the incumbent, Dr Virginia Albert-Poyotte, remains on medical leave.
Jeremiah Norbert taking the oath of office on Monday (GIS Photo)
A government statement said that Norbert “assumes the historic role of Minister for Persons with Disabilities following his triumphant recovery from a motor vehicle accident that left him with a permanent disability in 2021.
“As Minister for Crime Prevention, Jeremiah Norbert will work with law enforcement officials, members of the judiciary, correctional officers, civic groups, NGOs, and civil society at large to develop actionable policy solutions that will redirect vulnerable groups from criminality and implement non-tactical countermeasures that deter criminal ideation,” the statement added.
It said that establishing the Ministry of Crime Prevention “further supports government efforts to suppress crime by harnessing and coordinating the collective goodwill of civil society to provide viable alternatives and initiate effective interventions that target vulnerable groups.”
So far this year, 20 people have been murdered here. Last year, the island recorded 75 murders.
In January this year, Prime Minister Pierre expressed deep concern over the rising number of homicides on the island. He pledged to implement more robust measures to confront the situation.
and then 