Centralized Community Safety Centre opens

Sunday, May 25, 2025

by Office of the Prime Minister

THE ORIGINAL DETENTION CENTRE ALONG WITH THE HISTORIC ROYAL GAOL, WERE DEMOLISHED IN 2020. Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre, on May 23, presided over the official reopening of a high-security detention centre in Castries, renamed the Centralized Community Safety Centre, marking a significant milestone in government’s commitment to enhance national security in Saint Lucia.   The new facility features eight modern holding cells, providing the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) with a centralized and secure location to detain individuals awaiting legal proceedings. This development addresses longstanding challenges faced by law enforcement due to the absence of adequate detention facilities, which had previously led to overcrowding in various police stations across the island.    “The Centralized Community Safety Centre is not just about restoring a building, it’s about restoring our commitment to justice, safety, and the rule of law,” stated Prime Minister Pierre, who also serves as Minister for National Security. “This facility is essential for the effective functioning of our police force and the broader criminal justice system.”   The original detention centre, along with the historic Royal Gaol and police headquarters, were demolished in 2020, leaving law enforcement without a central detention facility.   Demolishing the only detention facility in the capital without any alternative plans to safely and securely house criminal suspects imperilled policing operations, compromised citizen security and destroyed the oldest building in the capital. The Centralised Community Safety Center facility meets international standards for housing detainees and facilitating administrative processes.   Police Commissioner Verne Garde said: "I have traversed the current of repair to the injured law enforcement environment, and although it has been a long road, we are getting there. We have moved from the era of penal servitude to corrections, supported by the repair of most of our police infrastructure and the construction of new police facilities to serve the public.    "Today unveils another one of the planned approaches to mitigate against a negative national security environment. One which considered the fundamental rights enshrined in our constitution and the maintenance of our inherent right to dignity and humane treatment. So we begin with a change of nomenclature from what it was to a Centralized Community Safety Centre, eliciting a modern approach to policing."   In addition to the reopening, the government has announced further investments in law enforcement resources, including the procurement of bullet-proof vests, specialized equipment, and a dedicated prison escort vehicle to facilitate the safe transport of detainees.    The reopening ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, government ministers, and members of the public, all of whom acknowledged the significance of this development in strengthening Saint Lucia’s commitment to public safety and justice.