BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DALE ‘HOT BOY’ WATTLEY was laid to rest yesterday, June 15, at the Tabernacle Methodist Church Cemetery following his Thanksgiving Service that was held at the Tabernacle Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m.
Wattley was 32 years old when he was gunned down near his home in Mc Knight, on May 31, sometime after 9:00 p.m.
After spending several years in Canada and returning to St. Kitts in 2010, Wattley pro-claimed that he had changed from his younger anti-social behavior and severed his gang relations. Instead he preached peace, love and unity encouraging youths to deter from gangs.
At the Service several tributes were given, including that from his father Roosevelt ‘Mr. Cool’ Duncan, one of his sisters Mesha Wattley, his cousin Kernis Akers and Jervin Vanterpool, a childhood friend.
His formal remembrance was done by former Minister of National Security, Dwyer Astaphan who said that he was with him the night before he died.
“I was with Dale at the barbershop on the night of 30th May, 24 hours before he met his death by a gunman. He was very reflective on that night, and gave off a totally different aura and vibe. He seemed almost to be in another world. I had never gotten that vibe from him before. His eyes, while warm, twinkling and loving towards me as always, were somewhat distant that night. And I wondered, after hearing of his death from his father, whether he might have already reached a different spiritual place, even 24 hours before his death.
“He said that he was encouraged by the efforts being made thus far with regard to the youths of SKN, but he wanted more. He wondered aloud how much more advanced the situation might have been, and how many lives and families saved, had the cries been heeded 7 years before. But he had already moved on from that and was working with what he had,” Astaphan said.
He noted that from a young age Wattley developed a love for animals and music…especially a guitar… and that he was bullied in both primary and secondary schools.
“He decided that he wouldn’t take any more of that, and that he’d fight back. At the time he was also developing a love for boxing, and he was very promising. So when he started getting into fights he started beating up the bullies, and he developed a reputation which made him a leader on one hand and a target on the other,” Astaphan said.
His father, known as one of St. Kitts’ best barbers, began teaching him how to cut hair and would have him stand on a Bryson box. However, at first Wattley thought barbering was for old men, but soon grew to love it and made a name for himself in that field.
“A talented barber and hair stylist, a handsome youngster to whom the ladies were greatly attracted, a promising boxer, an artistic person, and a very tough and charismatic guy among his peers - that was Dale. His father, known famously as Mr. Cool, saw by contrast his hot son, whom he dubbed ‘Hot Boy’.” Astaphan described Wattley as a brave individual, who loved a good debate on anything from politics to religion.
He said while the young man was able to make a dollar from barbering, the other side was that he got himself into difficulties with the police, court and prison as he was regarded as a leader among youths involved in gangs.
In 2004, a year after his first child was born, he accepted the invitation to join the Circle of Peace which was intended to get the message out to youths that the gang life and the violence would no longer be accepted, and that while offenders would have to face the full force of the law, the authorities were also reaching out to these youths to help point them in a positive, peaceful and productive direction.
“The intention of the Circle of Peace was to stabilize youth, stabilize families, and to make our communities safer and better for generations to come. Dale fully understood the concept and the plan and he worked his tail off to help see it through to fruition. He played a lead role, as meetings were held with every gang.
“These were trying situations, with Dale facing down some of his most notorious enemies and telling them that peace was the right way to go, and begging them to be a part of bringing that peace. He was even a part of a group visit to the Prison back then to speak to former friends and enemies about the new initiative and to welcome them aboard,” Astaphan said.
Upon his return to St. Kitts, and with his profound message of peace and unity he joined the New Mentality Team Club which was founded by his friend Chad Williams.
Astaphan also said that the new Police Commissioner, Mr. C.G. Walwyn, after being introduced to both Wattley and Williams and some other young men, took a direct and special interest, and pretty soon Dale became part of the renewed effort to stabilize youth, which effort has been manifested in a number of ways, including the hydroponics farm project in McKnight presently under way.
He also visited the prison earlier this year and spoke to the prisoners along with Williams on changing their lifestyle and promoting peace.
This was the remembrance Astaphan sought to leave with the many mourners gathered at the Tabernacle Methodist Church at the Thanksgiving Service of Dale ‘Hot Boy’ Wattley
Wattley leaves to mourn his wife, Alex, three children Jaheem, Jahdesha and Jahzarah, his mother Lucille Wattley and his father along with many other family members and friends.
