KINGSTOWN, Jamaica, CMC – Acting Commissioner of Police Enville Williams says that St. Vincent and the Grenadines have a problem with gun violence as the island recorded three murders last weekend, pushing the death toll so far this year to a record 47.
Williams, who took up his new position last month, told a news conference that the island had recorded 47 homicides this year, 43 of which police have classified as murders. The figure is five more than last year when a record 42 homicides were recorded.
“I wish that my first chat with us as Commissioner of Police were under better circumstances, but it is not,” said Williams, who before his new post had been the assistant commissioner of police responsible for crime fighting.
“Over the period Friday to Sunday, three lives were lost due to senseless acts of violence, two of which were by the route of illegal arms and ammunition,” Williams said as he spoke about “the disheartening nature of crime generally but more specifically crime committed by the use of the firearms.”
He said firearms were used in the commission of 36 of the 43 murders recorded this year.
“But, like I said before, we have a problem. That is the reason why the government and CARICOM (Caribbean Community) are treating illegal firearms as a pandemic,” Williams said.
“So, it is not just a police problem but a whole-of-society problem, and as such, we must address this pandemic in a united fashion, hence the reason why I appeal, and we continue to appeal to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to partner with us.”
Police said that Zachary “Zack” McIntosh, 31, died last Friday, three days after he sustained injuries allegedly in an altercation with a close relative, who has since been arrested.
Police also reported that Maurice Primus, 31, was found dead with gunshot wounds to his body and head last Friday night, and on Sunday night, Tambu Patrick, 39, was gunned down.
Two people are assisting police with their investigations.
“Friends, we have a problem where the use of illegal guns is becoming all too rampant among us, and we must not, as citizens, as Vincentians, allow this practice to be normalized as the way forward,” Williams told the media.
“As right-thinking Vincentians, we must not accept these occurrences as normal, and we should do everything in our power to rid our streets and our communities of illegal arms and ammunition and the few rogue men and women who seek to use them to instill fear among citizens.”
Williams said that very shortly, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) and law-enforcement community in general will roll out “the highly-anticipated gun amnesty” that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced in his independence address on October 27 this year.
“This, among other measures, is geared towards making our streets and our communities safer for all of us because, too often, lives are lost because of illegal firearms. Homes are shattered, dreams are broken, and too many cries are going up because of violence,” Williams said.
He urged Vincentians to partner with the constabulary and the law enforcement community in general “as we seek to tackle this scourge of crime and criminality because we must continue to make our country safe and secure for all of us.
“I encourage civic groups, neighborhood watches, and religious organizations to join in solidarity with us as we make a Herculean effort to rid our streets of violence. Yes, it is our job, but together, we can do this to make St. Vincent safe for all of us,” said Williams, who urged young people involved in the bloodletting to stop.
“I want to, again, appeal to our nation’s youth, those who think it is ok to perpetrate these crimes, to stop. Make absolutely no mistake, our resolve to get rid of the guns off the streets of St. Vincent is strong,” Williams said.
“Make absolutely no mistake. We want to allow you to give up the guns and ammunition where you have them. But make no mistake, we are resolved to get them.
“So, we want to encourage you who in some way, shape, or fashion, believe that you have an upper hand to know that the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force and law enforcement generally in St. Vincent, will do all that we have to do to protect the good name of SVG and the citizens of SVG from these senseless acts of violence.”
He appealed to the public to say something when they see something.
“But there is that small sector of society, those who harbor the criminal and shield them from police action or prosecution — stop these acts. It is eroding the very society that you live in. It is undermining the peace and security of your neighbors.
“And if you continue to do it, we will come for you likewise. They are encouraged to do more when you continue to shelter them from criminals. So, I want to appeal to you not to hide them, not to give them shelter or safe space to operate in because by doing that, your neighbors and brothers and sisters are affected by the crime perpetrated by them,” Williams said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for police operations, Christopher Benjamin, urges the public to work with the police to fight crime.
“I know the question is being asked, ‘What the police is doing? We are working hard to keep everybody safe, but it will defeat the purpose if I outline exactly what we are about to do or what we are doing.
“But all I will say is you will feel us. So, expect some inconvenience based on our initiatives. We will be seen. A high police presence will be visible throughout our communities, and we will be present but not so present. So, we will be there, and you won’t know we are there,” Benjamin said.
“I urge citizens to come forward, give information to the police so that we can bring these people committing these crimes to justice. Please don’t wait until it is affecting you to come forward. Remember, we are all in this crime-fighting business together.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police responsible for crime-fighting, Trevor Bailey, said that the police have taken immediate steps to address an upsurge in the Central Leeward town of Layou.
Bailey said the authorities have recognized that there was “a bit of a fall-off between the citizens and the police.
“And we are committed to mending that bridge, to fill in that gap,” he told the media, adding, “We are committed, deeply committed, and concerned about the level of crime in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“We have every shoulder, every boot that is being laced, the members of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. Our shoulders are committed to making sure that crime is minimal and more so, homicides in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with dispatch, with urgency, we get a proper grip on the entire situation.”
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