WHILE the Christmas and New Year seasons was marred with violence and accidents in the city of Castries, in the southern part of the island it was relatively peaceful.
The serenity of the communities in the south was not disturbed by major violence, which was a bit of a surprise to many.
Residents of the south say it was as a result of the heavy presence of the police in various communities there. They described the work of the police during the Christmas season as āa job well doneā.
In Vieux Fort, smartly-attired police officers, most of who appeared to be young, were on patrol in every nook and cranny of the town, which was quite a spectacle. And with just a fleeting glance, they could be recognized from a distance.
āI have never seen so many police officers in Vieux-Fort during any time of the year. I was pleasantly surprisedā¦ I wish they would continue their good work,ā a resident said.
Ronald Pelius, Fire Officer in charge of the Southern Division, said as it relates to their work, the season was not as hectic as in the past.
Mayor of Vieux Fort, Orricia Denbow- Bullen, in a brief interview with this reporter, heaped praise on the police for doing an excellent job in Vieux Fort during the Christmas season, especially during āAssou Squareā celebrations.
āWhat I observed was that crime was low and it was as a result of the heavy presence of the police. We had a lot of police presence — even at the pedestrian crossings, where there is usually a bottle neck,ā Bullen explained.
She added: āThe police did an excellent job with their little resources, but they need much more in order to do an even better job.ā
And as it relates to āAssou Squareā in Vieux Fort, residents say it was better than last year.