Business leaders want crime talks
St Lucia’s private sector has called for a meeting of stakeholders to address an upsurge in murders on the island.
The chamber of industry and commerce says the current state of affairs is no longer tenable and drastic action must be taken.
The call from the business leaders came on the heels of three murders last weekend.
Increased crime rates have been a concern for local authorities in recent times and the Chamber says Castries should pay close attention to this week’s standoff between security forces in Jamaica and supporters of alleged drug lord Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.
The chamber stated that it will not allow the country to go down the path where eventually the state is at war with its citizens.
Earlier this week a statement from Prime Minister Stephenson King’s office said he would be meeting with the police and the home affairs minister to examine measures to deal with what he called the intolerable level of homicides.
Union comments on fiscal measures
The Bahamas Public Service Union has told the government that it must reinstate public sector pay increments and promotions as soon as it can.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced a freeze on pay and promotions this week, among other measures to cope with the fallout from the financial crisis.
Union President John Pinder said many people have been affected by the downturn and most are living paycheck to paycheck.
