CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) — The main Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) says it remains “very concerned” about reports of yet another police officer being denied entry into the United States of America.

In a statement yesterday, the UWP said this latest incident adds to the long list of high-ranking police officers who were also denied entry into the US.

The party alleged that the names of these and additional police officers have been cited in the report by the Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).

“Are we to expect more denial of entry into the USA of our police officers? These repeated incidents have not only embarrassed the men and women of the Royal St Lucia Police Force but have made St Lucia the laughingstock of the Caribbean,” the UWP noted.

It said despite this, the Government continues to remain silent on these continued fall-outs from the report.

The UWP said the Government’s response to apparent pressure to do something about the findings of the report is to single out a number of high-ranking officers of the Police Force and make scapegoats of them.

“Although the prime minister spoke of engaging the judicial process by passing on the report to the DPP for appropriate action, he seems hell-bent on circumventing due legal process and the rules of natural justice.

“The UWP understands that the prime minister continues to pressure senior officers to resign from their positions and accept special retirement packages without being charged and found guilty of any wrongdoing, without due process and without an opportunity to be heard.

“If these allegations are true, one would think that the prime minister, a lawyer by profession, would know that this course of action is illegal and unfair,” the party noted.