A grim wave of violence has swept across St. Vincent and the Grenadines as five murders occurred on Wednesday, July 19, marking one of the deadliest days in the nation’s history.
Among the victims was a young boy, 13 years old, tragically becoming another figure in the escalating crime statistics. The killings have sent shockwaves through the island nation, with community leaders and citizens demanding urgent action.
In a video released on Wednesday night, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves expressed his deep condolences to the victims’ families and pledged that the government would take immediate action. “We are heartbroken and outraged by the senseless loss of life,” Gonsalves said. “Our priority is to bring the perpetrators to justice, and we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of this.”
The Commissioner of Police released a statement late Wednesday evening, outlining the incidents and vowing to intensify police efforts. “These are not mere statistics, but lives snuffed out too early,” the Commissioner said. “We urge anyone with information to come forward. Your silence today could lead to another death tomorrow.”
In an earnest plea, Opposition Leader, Dr. Godwin Friday, spoke on the radio Thursday morning, calling for an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to address the escalating crime situation. He implored the government to involve various stakeholders, including civil society and opposition members, and seek outside assistance. “This is not a time for political division. We must unite as a country to confront this crisis. The people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines deserve to live in a safe and secure society,” stated Dr. Friday.
This recent surge in violence follows closely on the heels of two other murders the previous day, Tuesday, July 18. At around 8 a.m., Kemon Roberts, a 28-year-old resident, was shot and killed. Later in the evening, Kingsley Shallow met the same fate, shot dead on the streets at around 9:40 p.m.
These grim events bring the total number of murders within a 24-hour period to a staggering seven, raising the tally for 2023 thus far to 35. This figure is alarmingly close to last year’s record-setting total of 42 homicides, a statistic that the nation had hoped never to approach again.
As the nation reels from this violence, citizens, community leaders, and politicians alike must find common ground to confront the scourge of crime and work towards making St. Vincent and the Grenadines a safer place for all its residents.