Calls grow for action after Qwami shot dead in Marchand
CASTRIES, St Lucia — Gun violence has once again gripped the Marchand community. A man was fatally shot early Sunday morning, marking the second deadly shooting in the area within 72 hours. The latest incident has triggered renewed public outrage and intensified scrutiny of the government’s handling of the crime crisis.
The victim, identified only as Qwami, was reportedly approached by a lone gunman and shot in the head. Emergency responders were unable to save him. Officers from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force are now conducting a full investigation into the fatal attack, which comes as the island continues to reel from Thursday night’s mass shooting that left six injured and two dead.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has not released a motive, but sources familiar with the situation allege that Qwami was involved in illegal firearms trafficking and maintained close ties with Prime Minister Philip J Pierre, who serves as the parliamentary representative for Castries East, which includes Marchand.
Despite a string of deadly shootings across the island, including the brutal killing of a pregnant woman and her unborn child, Prime Minister Pierre had until now remained notably silent. His long-awaited response, issued Sunday, arrived only after violence appeared to strike within his inner circle. For many, the timing was not coincidental.
Listen: Prime Minister Philip J Pierre’s full statement following Qwami’s death in Marchand
The Prime Minister’s statement, delivered in a stilted and hesitant tone, included what he called his “deepest and sincerest condolences” to the victims of what he described as “senseless killings.” Yet for a nation in crisis, the address struck many as lackluster and politically self-serving. Critics described the remarks as comical at best, with one observer likening them to a primary school oral report rather than a call to national leadership.
Pierre stated, “One murder is too much,” and assured that his government would “continue to do whatever we can” to stop crime. He said the police would be given all necessary resources within fiscal limits, but his assurances rang hollow to those who remember the administration’s early decisions that undermined law enforcement capabilities.
Shortly after taking office in 2021, Pierre’s government disbanded the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force’s K-9 Unit. The move drew widespread concern, especially given the unit’s success in intercepting weapons and narcotics. Under mounting pressure, the Prime Minister later accepted a trained K-9 from the French government. That dog, named Tyson, quickly made a name for himself in operations targeting arms traffickers. However, Tyson was soon found poisoned and died in what remains an unresolved case.
The poisoning and the silence that followed cast a long shadow over a government that has shown little appetite for transparency. Observers have noted that Tyson’s death, along with the disbandment of the St Lucia Police K-9 Unit, coincided with the continued rise of alleged traffickers like Qwami, raising troubling questions about who ultimately benefited.
Rather than focus on policy or accountability, Pierre used part of his speech to condemn a podcast by a United Workers Party supporter. He criticized the opposition for allegedly using the island’s crime crisis for political gain, a statement many found ironic given his own silence until now.
“We cannot allow our peaceful country to be destroyed by a few selfish, greedy, and disgraceful individuals,” Pierre said. “The police have my fullest support to go out and do what they have to do within the law.”
But for many St Lucians, the Prime Minister’s words arrived far too late and said far too little. Residents continue to demand clarity, real leadership, and a national crime strategy based on results, not rhetoric.
Thursday night’s mass shooting in Marchand, which left two dead and four injured, was previously reported by Unitedpac St Lucia News.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with either attack. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has urged anyone with information to come forward. All tips will be treated in strict confidence.
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