The St. Lucia government Friday reaffirmed its ‘respect for the independence’ of the police and the ‘rule of law’ as it acknowledged that it had been notified that Housing, Local Government and Urban Renewal Minister, Richard Frederick, had been detained for questioning on Thursday
‘We remain committed to ensuring that all lawful processes proceed without interference and in accordance with the Constitution and the Laws of St. Lucia,’ according to a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.
It said that the government ‘remains committed to transparency, accountability, and keeping the public appropriately informed as official information becomes available’
The brief government statement said that it had been notified that Frederick ”had been detained for questioning as part of an ongoing matter and subsequently released.
‘As this remains an active process, we will not comment on issues that may prejudice or interfere with any lawful process.’
Frederick Thursday night confirmed he had been questioned by police, but that he ‘has nothing to fear’.
Appearing on his weekly television programme ‘Can I Help You,’ the 60 year-old attorney and former police officer, told viewers that he had been ‘greeted by a barrage of police officers ‘ at his home soon after he had awakened.
‘And I asked why, they told me I cooperated with them. They did what they had to do and told me, you know, they need to see me at the station. I accompanied them to the police station.
He said ‘when I heard all the allegations, I knew in my heart of hearts…that in a nutshell, Richard has nothing to fear.
‘In a nutshell. I don’t wanna go into everything because obviously, the police are conducting their investigations and I don’t want in any way, shape or form to compromise the integrity of the investigations.’
But while he did not tell viewers the reasons behind the police investigation, Frederick said ‘what I do know is this man you see there, call me what you want, call me this, call me that, but there are certain things I don’t cross boundaries on, never and never will, okay.
‘I don’t cross those boundaries. I have five daughters, five,’ he said, confirming that the police were investigating ‘certain allegations’ against him.
‘Yes, yes,’ he said, adding ‘I feel good, I feel good, because you s…one of the things you never want to do, is let the police do the investigations and let them be satisfied…’.
They have conducted the investigations. hey have conducted the investigations. Enough said,’ he said, adding that ‘you know, folks, you know, anybody, anyone who believes that they can seek elevation in life by trampling on the head of another, by doing disservice to another, by fabricating stories on another, by basically spreading propaganda that is false, at some point, the truth and the truth must prevail.
‘Must prevail…not mere, must, must, you know? So those of you who believe that you can patch up a story, I’m not saying it in that case, you can patch up a story and sell it like you will sell Eskimo to ice, as long as Richard Frederick is anyway involved, Richard Frederick will melt the ice.
‘He will meld the ice, because I do believe in justice. I always say, let the chips fall where they may. I am one of those politicians, my supporters will tell you, if I give them an apartment and they don’t pay it, I’ll say, throw them out…If I give them a shop and they don’t pay it, throw them out.
‘Because if what is given to you is a benefit upon you, then there’s a responsibility that comes with the benefit. So I make no excuses for no one, none at all. And if I do something wrong, let me suffer the consequences. I want no one to make excuses for me.
‘However, however, however, come with truth and truth alone,’ Frederick said.