CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – AS a result of two senseless acts of violence in as many days on Nevis, the island’s Premier the Hon. Vance Amory is calling on citizens of the twin-island Federation to “seek peaceful and amicable ways to resolve disagreements”.
At about 3:00 a.m. on Saturday (Apr. 16), 20-year-old Vincey Ferlance of Bath Village had attended a fundraising activity at Lime Beach Bar on Pinney’s Beach and was shot to the torso while on the dance floor. He reportedly died while being transported to the Alexandra Hospital.
And at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Sunday (Apr. 17), Kishanda Clarke, also known as Kishanda Wallace, of Newtown, St. Kitts but was residing at Government Road in Charlestown, Nevis, was shot multiple times.
He was reportedly walking along the Stuart Williams Drive when a car drove by and an individual or individuals from within opened fire in his direction, striking him twice to the left shoulder and once to the left leg. He is currently being treated for his injuries at the Alexandra Hospital.
Since then, a suspect was arrested in Ferlance’s shooting-death and another individual was arrested in the attempted murder of Clarke. Charges have not been preferred against the two suspects as investigations are ongoing.
From this backdrop, Premier Amory, in his message to citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis, said: “It is with much sadness that I send this message to the people of the Federation, in general, and to the people of Nevis, in particular, after the spate of violence over the weekend which resulted in one young man being killed and another left nursing injuries as a result of two criminal incidents.”
He stressed that his message is for citizens to take timeout for introspection and to take a stand against acts of violence.
“This call is for all of our citizens to take a serious look at ourselves as a people and take a stance against such senseless acts of violence which not only destroy the lives of those who are victims but also the lives of the perpetrators of the crime and the families and friends and associates on all sides.”
The island’s Political Leader pointed out that the senseless acts of violence also create tension and fear in the Federation, adding that though it appears that those acts are targeted at persons who might be involved in petty personal disagreements, it is cause for great concern that the perpetrators continue to resort to the use of guns to settle their arguments.
“I can only appeal to all who are contemplating such senseless acts of crime and violence to seek to resolve and settle their differences by talking among themselves and not allow the desire for revenge to drive them to use guns and other weapons to destroy each other,” he said..
Premier Amory also appealed to parents whose children may be involved in crime and violence to not only persuade them to desist from that lifestyle, but to also report them to the authorities.
“I can only appeal to the parents of anyone who is suspected of being involved in any gang or who may appear to be involved in committing any act of violence to talk seriously with their children, both boys and girls, and get them to move away from a life of crime and destruction.
“If parents or any persons in the community have information that their children or any other persons in the community may be involved in committing a crime or may have weapons, I can only ask you to do the right thing and report them to the police or get a responsible trusted person to assist to get this dealt with as quietly and effectively possible.”
He intoned that everyone needs to come together in an effort to restore the Federation to a place in which all could live in peace and safety, while urging that all petty and serious personal grudges as well as disagreements shout be cast aside.
“Seek peaceful and amicable ways to resolve disagreements,” he lamented.
Amory declared that the police would be advised to take actions to assist in the resolution of crime.
He thanked the police for the expeditious manner in which they had arrested the suspects in the two senseless acts of violence.
“Our country cannot take any more of this crime and violence. Let us stop it now. It is the responsibility of all of us and I appeal to everyone to join in this crusade to restore our country as a place where peace abounds,” pleaded Premier Amory.
