Commentary highlights allegations of cover-ups, abuse, and public betrayal by Saint Lucia’s police and government
CASTRIES, St Lucia — The SLP and the RSLPF are under renewed fire following a scathing commentary by public commentator Minerva Ward, who accuses both the Saint Lucia Labour Party and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force of fostering a culture of impunity, cover-ups, and contempt for justice. In a wide-ranging statement shared with Unitedpac St Lucia News, Ward outlines a disturbing pattern of state-sanctioned silence and failure to act on police abuse, corruption, and unprosecuted misconduct.
The commentary, which has already triggered widespread discussion across Saint Lucia’s political landscape, singles out three high-profile cases: the 2013 death of Shakadan “Shaka Dan” Daniel in police custody, the 2018 unsolved murder of Kimberly De Leon, and recent sexual misconduct allegations involving Deputy Police Commissioner Ronald Phillip.
Ward argues that in each case, the system failed victims and shielded perpetrators, pointing to lost evidence, lack of accountability, and what she calls “political cover” from the ruling SLP administration.
Her remarks follow renewed scrutiny of the RSLPF after fresh revelations in the De Leon investigation and mounting public concern over unresolved abuse allegations at senior levels of the force.
Unitedpac St Lucia News publishes Ward’s full commentary below in the public interest and in accordance with our commitment to editorial transparency.
Full Commentary by Minerva Ward: “SLP and the RSLPF: A Culture of Impunity, Cover-Ups, and Contempt for Justice”
By Minerva Ward
How many bodies, how many victims, how many destroyed lives before St. Lucians wake up and admit the truth? The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) is rotting from within, and the SLP government is doing nothing but providing political cover for a force that has long lost the trust of the people.
Three separate cases each grotesque in its own way lay bare the RSLPF’s staggering lack of integrity, its shameless disregard for due process, and its apparent comfort with corruption and abuse.
Case One: The Death of Shakadan “Shaka Dan” Daniel
October 2013. Shaka Dan is found hanging in a cell at the Micoud Police Station. We are told he “hanged himself” with a noose that, conveniently, has now disappeared from police custody. No noose, no accountability. Just another young Black man dead in police hands, written off with a shrug.Case Two: The Murder of Kimberly De Leon
October 2018. Kimberly is shot dead in her own bedroom while her two children are in the house. Her husband a police officer is the prime suspect. The weapon believed to be central to the case? Also missing. Another crime scene contaminated, another family shattered, another case left to rot in cold storage while the RSLPF protects its own.Case Three: The Sexual Predation of Deputy Police Commissioner Ronald Phillip
And now, the most recent disgrace. Multiple women allege sexual assault three victims and one outright rape by none other than Deputy Police Commissioner Ronald Phillip. Instead of outrage, the SLP’s political operatives rush to spin the narrative: “He’s been exonerated.” Exonerated? Or shielded? The difference matters, and the public deserves proof not political soundbites from a government desperate to save face.And let’s not forget, in the midst of all this, the sickening murder of a police dog a disturbing act that only underscores the rot in the force’s culture and discipline.
The question is simple: Why should the public have any confidence in the police? The RSLPF has become a force where evidence disappears, suspects are protected if they wear a uniform, and victims whether dead, abused, or traumatized are treated as collateral damage.
The SLP government stands complicit. Their silence is deafening. Their inaction is an endorsement. Their willingness to let these cases fade into obscurity is nothing short of contempt for the people of Saint Lucia.
Context and Reaction
Minerva Ward’s remarks have struck a nerve amid intensifying public outcry for police reform and institutional transparency in Saint Lucia. With each unresolved scandal, citizens and civil society groups have grown increasingly vocal, citing the Shakadan Daniel and Kimberly De Leon cases as stark reminders of a justice system many view as compromised by political interference and institutional rot.
Recent developments, including revelations that key evidence in the De Leon murder investigation has gone missing, have only deepened public skepticism about the RSLPF’s credibility and investigative integrity.
The allegations against Deputy Police Commissioner Ronald Phillip remain deeply divisive, with human rights advocates and women’s organizations demanding a fully independent inquiry. Calls for transparency have been met with silence from the political directorate. As of publication, the Office of the Prime Minister has not issued any formal response to Ward’s blistering commentary.
This intervention comes at a pivotal moment in the national conversation around governance, policing, and accountability. With confidence in law enforcement and the justice system steadily eroding, Ward’s voice joins a growing chorus demanding answers not just from the RSLPF, but from the political leadership many now accuse of shielding wrongdoers rather than protecting the public.
For continued coverage on political accountability, justice reform, and developments involving the SLP and the RSLPF, follow Unitedpac St Lucia News.
