Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has called for calm and urged his compatriots not to panic after gun violence claimed the lives of five people Wednesday night.
According to local reports, the deceased included a thirteen-year-old boy.
“The first thing I want to do, of course, is to indicate to our people that we must be calm; we must not panic,” Prime Minister Gonsalves, responsible for National Security, said.
He spoke from Morocco, where he is on an official visit.
“We have to be resolute in fighting the criminals,” he said.
Gonsalves disclosed that ramped-up security measures were underway as he spoke.
However, the Vincentian leader explained that he could not divulge all for tactical and operational reasons.
Gonsalves also appealed to people to provide the police with information while revealing that the security forces were on high alert.
“We have certain leads, I have been advised by the police, and over the next few days, we will be able to get a better handle as to who and what was responsible for these killings,” he stated.
Gonsalves spoke of his administration’s resolve to get to the bottom of the killings and put people’s safety at the top of its agenda.
Local media reports quoted Police Commissioner Colin John saying the shooting occurred at about 8 p.m. in the Harbour Club area in eastern Kingstown.
Gonsalves explained that upon learning of the deadly gun violence, he immediately contacted the Police Commissioner, acting Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel, and Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves, getting updates and giving advice and suggestions.
He described the ‘shooting spree’ as a terrible tragedy and vowed that the perpetrators would face justice.
I would not be surprised if some of our Lucian thugs are mixed up in this tragic turn of events in St. Vincent!
Free movement of these crime infested Islands will just make apprehension of criminals more difficult and complicated. Keep in mind apprehension is well below 30 %.
Aa but is lucians that running the show there
From my reliable source, it was St.Lucian criminals who committed such a sinister act. They need to be unalive.
What times are these that we’re living in. I’ve read that our boys go to Martinique and commit all kinds of crime, now according to @ The One – he got it from reliable sources, that it is Lucian guys who committed such sinister acts. I personally think we are playing with fire if we don’t bring back hanging; which I think is the only solution.
What is Mary Francis saying concerning these criminals? We all know she is bent on supporting criminals. We need hanging as of yesterday.
wow! I see a lot of people throwing Lucians under the bus without any evidence. If you don’t have the facts keep SHUT !!
@the one…people like u sicken me…report them
Those small island are very backward , as they refuse to enact a minimum wage so the youtes could be motivated to go and do the odd jobs for 10 dollars an hour . All they do is represent big businesses that fund their political campaigns
“The One”, is non other than a Lucian hater. Be aware.
Bright people here let the police get their facts and stop making assumptions like you all knew. And the idiots talking about minimum wage the youth and the old these days is all about getting rich quick and they do anything to achieve it,take a good look at our politians ,crime is a business no matter how you look at it it just took time to show its ugly head boldly. I hope one day our policy makers wake up and make some proper decisions and stop coming and talk crap on social media thinking they can fool the masses to get their votes. This thing ain’t going away soon.