Basseterre, St. Kitts, Saturday 17th October- ONCE again the scourge of crime and violence has stretched its hands to torment the lives of the ordinary and law abiding citizens of St. Kitts & Nevis.
This time the attack has been against a prominent political representative of the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM).
At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Saturday 17th October, 2009, an armed intruder broke into the home of the People’s Action Movement candidate for the West Basseterre constituency, Mr. Bernard Welsh, and attacked and terrorized his family, including their two young children.
The incident took place at the family’s home in Shadwell Gardens, in the central district of Basseterre.
As reports of the incident became known, members of Mr. Welsh’s family, his friends, colleagues and political leader visited his home to express their sympathy and show their compassion, especially for the children who unfortunately were severely traumatized by this unwarranted attack in their own residence.
Mr. Welsh has indicated that he and his family are now trying to cope with this invasion and personal attack, which unfortunately has come at a most volatile period in the current political campaign as his Party prepares for the upcoming General Elections.
As society continues to pay the escalating price for the mounting criminal activities in the Federation, a new call is being made for a joint community and national effort to renounce and rid the country of this nagging problem, said PAM’s Political Leader, Mr. Lindsay Grant, following his visit with the family.
Mr. Grant further stated that the assault on Mr. Welsh’s family was the second such incident in the early hours of Saturday morning, when a young woman was also violently attacked in her hometown of Sandy Point.
Mr. Grant has issued a reminder that this is also the second violent attack against a PAM political candidate since the start of electioneering activities by his Party.
The PAM candidate for Constituency Number 8, Mr. Eugene Hamilton, suffered serious injury when a group of individuals targeted the PAM platform speakers while they convened a political meeting in Old Road, the heart of Constituency Number Four, in which Mr. Grant himself is competing as a candidate.
On that occasion, the severity of Mr. Hamilton’s injuries required an extensive period of therapy and overseas medical attention.
The PAM leader has joined his colleague Mr. Bernard Welsh, in condemning the latest strike against his family and also that of the Sandy Point resident, indicating that the country must denounce this crime- plague, no matter its origin and victim.
He said that greater efforts will have to be made from now on, for the protection and safety of all candidates and families of the Peoples Action Movement.
Mr. Grant said that, as his colleague Mr. Welsh and his family try to deal with this difficult period in their lives, he is hoping that their privacy will be respected.
The Opposition Party Leader called on all well meaning citizens to remember the Welsh family in their prayers and he urged everyone to demonstrate some respect and decorum for the family during this period of solitude.
