CASTRIES, St. Lucia– The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment is expressing outrage over what it says “is a sad and criminally distasteful trend” affecting homeless people in the capital.
The ministry has been responding to and monitoring increasing reports of physical assaults perpetrated against “helpless and defenseless homeless individuals at night.
“The ministry’s investigations, to date, indicate that the harmful activity has left many of the homeless victims hospitalized, nursing serious injuries like broken bones. Investigations also reveal that the criminal activity is being carried out by a group of young males, who target homeless victims within the vicinity of the Castries Market and Constitution Park.”
The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment said it “is sounding the alarm on this matter” and is “asking persons to be increasingly vigilant and aware of their surroundings.
“The ministry, in the strongest possible way, condemns this callous and criminal behavior and calls on those involved to desist from this heartless practice immediately.”
The statement said that the efforts of the police have also been enlisted “as a means of helping to bring the criminal activity to a rapid halt.”
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