In a formal press briefing held Wednesday, Saint Lucia’s Police Commissioner Verne Garde announced the conclusion of a high-profile criminal investigation into government minister Richard Frederick, confirming that probing teams failed to uncover sufficient evidence to substantiate the claims against the senior official.
Garde’s announcement marked the first time the police chief publicly named Frederick as the official arrested earlier this year, breaking the prior anonymity around the case. The investigation traces back to July, when local outlet St Lucia Times questioned Garde about unconfirmed reports of a senior government figure’s arrest at a June 2 press conference. Following the public reveal of the arrest, Garde ordered a full, follow-up inquiry to gather all relevant facts surrounding the allegations.
Describing the probe as both extensive and logistically complicated, Garde detailed the significant efforts investigators put into securing testimony. In a notable step to build the case, one investigating officer traveled outside Saint Lucia to obtain a formal statement from the individuals who first brought the allegations, a milestone that had eluded the team in the early stages of the probe. “We expended all the resources within our unit to try to secure the statement, which we did,” Garde told reporters.
After completing all follow-up examinations of the claims, Garde said the voluminous body of evidence collected throughout the inquiry failed to support the allegations. “An allegation was made. We looked into the particular allegation, and the allegation was not sustained,” Garde stated, clarifying that the term “not sustained” in this context confirms an absence of enough evidence to validate the claims. Garde added that he personally reviewed the investigation’s final findings and endorsed the lead investigator’s recommendation to close the case.
Despite answering questions about the outcome of the probe, Garde remained unable to disclose the exact nature of the allegations against Frederick, citing legal restrictions outlined in the Saint Lucian Criminal Code that govern public disclosure of information during active and concluded criminal proceedings. Pressed for additional details on both the claims and the investigating team’s formal recommendation, Garde reiterated that legal constraints limited what information could be released publicly.
In closing remarks, Garde emphasized that the dismissal of the allegations for lack of evidence does not create a barrier for future complaints from members of the public. “As long as somebody feels that their rights have been infringed, we are obligated to assist them,” he said, reaffirming the police force’s commitment to investigating all legitimate claims of criminal activity brought forward by community members.