BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A 30-minute act of moral indignation between two gangs occurred at Port Zante in the presence of scores of visitors to St. Kitts on Friday afternoon (Jun. 21).
According to a number of employees at business entities on Port Zante, at about 5:30 p.m. on the day in question, two gangs clashed while in Mau Pau and ended up outside in the vicinity of the Arrival Hall at Port Zante whilst tourists were about to board the Carnival Valor.
They reported that bottles were the weapons used during the 30-minute ordeal as members of both gangs threw them at each other, leaving the tourists at risk. Fortunately, however, none of them were injured.
“The incident has cast a very bad reflection on St. Kitts as the tourists, old and young, ran for cover,” one employee said.
“I’m at a loss to know why these young unruly boys had to choose this place to vent their animosity upon each other. This does not augur well for the Federation which depends upon tourism to sustain its economy,” another employee said.
The incident was quelled by a lone Sergeant of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police, who came in for high commendation from a number of people who witnessed the incident.
A taxi operator, who chose to remain anonymous, said, “It was about 12 members of two gangs causing this disturbance and the Police Sergeant was pleading for assistance from the law-abiding public. However, no one went forward including myself, because it is a known fact that gang members will do you harm after the matter is settled.”
The taxi operator was however disturbed over the reaction of a former senior member of the Police Force and a Sergeant of the Port Authority.
“What seemed wrong to me and many onlookers was the blatant refusal of rendering assistance to the Sergeant by the Head of Security at Mau Pau who stood at the entrance of the casino and watched the proceedings.
“The Police Sergeant was unable to handle the gangs by himself, so he shouted out to a Sergeant from Port Authority who was watching the proceedings from a building close to the Arrival Hall. He finally left the building and went to the Officer’s assistance, and shortly after members of both gangs fled the scene.”
It is the view of the employees that more police presence is needed at Port Zante whenever tourists are on the island, with the aim of avoiding acts such as this one.
