After three months of zero homicides in Saint Lucia, the peace was broken, ironically over Easter which is supposed to be a holy weekend for Christians the world over. On Glorious Saturday, April 4, the first shooting incident for the year occurred at about 11:30 p.m. near the Courts building in Castries. Dead as a result is a male individual known as Anthony Harris of no known address.
Then on Easter Sunday April 5 at about 1:30 a.m. officers of the Criminal Investigations Department, (CID) responded to a report of a shooting incident in Monkey Town, Ciceron, Castries.
Investigations of this matter have revealed that 27 year old Oran Charles, also known as “Wong” of Ciceron appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds in the region of the head and upper body. The victim also demonstrated no vital signs. Oran Charles was transported to the Victoria Hospital,where he was pronounced dead.
A third homicide occurred on Tuesday April 7 in Castries, close to Leslie Land and Grass Street. Dead as a result is Asher Emmanuel, aka BJ, former coordinator of the Wilton’s Yard After-School Programme.Emmanuel, 48, is the husband of Cherly Clarke, a well-known Wilton’s Yard resident.
Then on Thursday, April 9 at about 8:30 a.m. a report of a shooting incident on Chaussee Road, Castries was received by the Criminal Investigations Department.
In response to the report, officers found the lifeless body of 43 year old James Alexander Nelson of Calvary Road, Castries laying on a sidewalk on Chaussee Road. Nelson had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body.
These latest incidents have sparked both outrage and fear by citizens particularly those living in Castries and its environs. The efficacy of the police as well as CCTV cameras in the city have also been brought into question. (T.N)
And a recent initiative by the Tourism people is that the diaspora promote St Lucia. Really?