Raheem Knight is a top student at Entrepot Secondary. * Photo credit: The Voice (St. Lucia)

A male student of the Entrepot Secondary School was stabbed in the face around noon today by one of two bandits who attempted to snatch his chain.

The victim has been identified as top student of Entrepot Secondary, Rakeem Knight, 16, of Carielle, Castries.

The victim’s mother, Melcina Knight, told St Lucia News Online (SNO) today (July 3) that her son, one of his schoolmate and his friend’s mother were heading to the school to pick up a copy of their transcripts when the incident occurred.

According to the woman, one of the bandits approached her son with a knife and demanded his chain, but Rakeem resisted. The other bandit was on the lookout. The bandit, who attacked Rakeem, had in his possession a nine-inch knife and at first attempted to stab him in the stomach. However, he was stabbed in his face instead.

Rakeem put up a fight and managed to get the bandit on the ground, but the bandit fought back and escaped without the chain. Melcina said Rakeem is devastated by the incident, but is thankful that he is alive. Rakeem was treated at hospital and released. He obtained several stitches.

Principal of the Entrepot Secondary Arthur Scott told SNO that Knight was robbed a few yards away from the school. Scott described it as an unfortunate incident, explaining that the young man and his friend decided to walk instead of catching a mini-bus.

Knight was recently named the Junior Achiever of the Year and was awarded the 2014 Outstanding Young Leader Award of St Lucia. He is actively involved in youth activism and is associated with the Young Leaders Club.

Officials from the Marchand Police Station had conducted a search for the bandits in the area, but came up empty-handed. This incident comes close to the stabbing of another 16-year-old student, Nichole Elibox of the St. Joseph Convent, who was wounded while being robbed of her cell phone.

Education Minister Dr. Robert Lewis had promised heightened security for the District Three area. Patrols are expected to be done between the hours of 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily.

Local hotelier Oliver Gobat. Photo credit: www.caribbean360.com.

A Facebook page named “Justice for Ollie Gobat” has been created in memory of hotelier and property developer Oliver “Ollie” Gobat who was murdered on Friday, April 25, 2014.

The page, which was created on June 30, will be used to provide updates on the case and information-sharing/tips to solve the murder.

The creators of the Facebook page said they want those responsible for Gobat’s murder “brought to justice and to improve our law and order”.

“We are determined to bring those responsible for Ollie’s murder to justice and to improve law and order in St. Lucia,” according to information on the page.

“Oliver Gobat was a gifted, kind, loving, generous and loyal soul who was taken away from us far too soon by evil perpetrators. This page is to share all the many memories and photos we had with Ollie, and also as a forum for us to update everyone as to what is happening with the case and for sharing any information anyone may have that may help. We will also be putting up a confidential telephone number shortly for anyone that would wish to leave information anonymously.”

Gobat’s parents had released a statement confirming that the charred body found in a burnt Range Rover in Cap Estate, Gros Islet was their 38-year-old son, who was reported missing the same night the remains were found.

Though his parents have identified the body, the local police are yet to release an official statement on the autopsy results and the identity of the body.

However, family and friends are determined to seek justice for the St. Lucian-born, British-raised multi-millionaire, who was the executive director at Cap Maison hotel in Cap Estate.

“It is simply not right that the evil perpetrators are walking around free after committing such a dreadful and heinous crime. Of course we hope that helping get closure for this crime will also bring forward other information for other ghastly unsolved murders,” according to a statement promoting the page.

PRESS RELEASE - On Thursday, July 3, 2014, a post mortem examination was conducted on the body of 35-year-old Ulanda “Jordan” Frederick of La Clery, Castries.

The results indicate hemorrhagic shock secondary to gunshot wounds.

About 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday July 1, 2014, officers responded to a report of a shooting at Leslie Land, Castries.

Upon arrival, they received information that Frederick was in the Leslie Land area when she sustained multiple gunshot wounds about the body.

Frederick was transported to Victoria Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is however investigating possible leads.

At least two shooting incidents have been reported to the St. Lucia News Online (SN)) newsroom Friday evening, July 4.

SNO received the first report around 9 p.m. that shots were fired off the Chaussee near Wilton’s Yard (Grave Yard). Unconfirmed reports are that one man sustained injuries.

Sounds of rapid gunfire (about 20-30 shots were heard) around 11 p.m. in Leslie Land or surrounding areas. No immediate reports of injuries.

SNO will update you with more concrete information when it becomes available.

Priscilla Cadasse (left) with the late Yulanda Frederick.

The following is an edited statement by Priscilla Cadasse, the sister of Yulanda Frederick who was gunned down on July 1, 2014 in Leslie Land, Castries. She also posted this statement on Facebook and gave St. Lucia News Online permission to re-publish it.

For those of you people playing God, those of you who were living in Yulanda Fredrick’s pants and knows what sex he was, for those of you who were there when he killed, all those people you say he killed, and blamed for several crimes he did not commit, he has done his time for all!

Thank you all for ya’llwords of bull…! Yulanda and I, his sister Priscilla Cadasse, could not care less. Only he knows what he has been through. You called him most notorious. Please! Tell me when has he ever been convicted? Where is the proof? Yulanda has no record in any jail as a convicted murderer, where is the PROOF? Pure speculation.

He was such a calm and quiet individual forced to rage. Nobody is talking about the treatment he got from society, being bullied from a child, being called a freak!

The special witnesses who saw Yulanda attack the family in the CDC apartments (in La Clery) where the little girl got killed on that fateful night, Yulanda Frederick was already weeks in police custody, so tell me: are there two Yulandas? Nobody asks where that problem stemmed from!

Soon after (the Agard incident) Yolanda was still arrested and sent to jail when Kershell and her family were attacked in La Clery.

You people talking about bad parenting! We had a grandmother who loved us dearly. We were born of the same mother so why am I not a so-called notorious murderer? Choops! The system failed my brother, ridiculed my brother and is still continuing to do so. Nobody deserve’s that kind of death. NO ONE!

Yulanda has written several letters to Mary Francis for help for justice for dab treatment! Nothing!!! Yulanda has tried to obtain a passport to leave St. Lucia for a better life. Their response in the Passport Office was, I quote: “You doe know what your sex is, so is not us that going to know for you.” With tears in his eyes he told me so! OMG! Humans!

Society was Yulanda’s biggest enemy! I am not saying Yulanda was a saint but he was not a dog either! NO need to worry about the notorious murderer. His (murderer) is here!

But for the judgmental persons out there, pray for your children, for you do not know what their future holds. I am saddened by my brother’s death, but relieved that he does not have to live a life of harassment anymore – either by bad boys, the police, the media or you.

He is in the hands of the Lord and the Lord said “vengeance is mine”!

Rest in perfect peace my heart, my love. I will miss you with everything in my body.

I love Yulanda. I love you and I will always with a heavy heart. I will never understand!

A 51-year-old man is now at Victoria Hospital following a shooting incident last night (Saturday, July 5) in Fond le Grand, Castries located behind Courts (between Wilton’s Yard and Leslie Land).

Reports are that about nine shots were fired in the direction of the victim, Michael Gustave of Fond le Grand.

One of the shots hit him on the right side of his stomach. It is believed that Gustave was an innocent bystander who got caught in the crossfire.

He was admitted to hospital in stable condition. Police received the shooting report at about 7:30 p.m.

This shooting comes after two reports of shootings in the city Friday night: one between 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the other around 11 p.m. Unconfirmed reports are that one person was injured in the earlier incident.

Yulanda Frederick

Pathologist Dr. Stephen King has confirmed that homicide victim Yulanda ‘Jordan’ Frederick, whose gender has been the source of much public debate over the years, is in fact a male with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), a rare condition that affects sexual development before birth and during puberty.

Dr. King performed Frederick’s post mortem examination on Thursday, July 3. Police said Frederick, 35, of La Clery, Castries, sustained multiple gunshot wounds in Leslie Land, Castries on Tuesday, July 1 at about 8:15 p.m.

Frederick had been referred to as a female in recent police and media reports.

In an exclusive interview with St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Saturday, July 5, Dr. King explained: “Mr. Frederick is a male and I say so because having done the examination I’ve found out that…. he has no female internal organs. He has testicular tissue, no ovarian tissue.

“What he suffered with was androgen insensitivity syndrome which means that when he was being developed … as a fetus, there was a lack of or a deformed androgen receptor in the genital tissue so what that means is that those tissues, during development, did not respond as they were supposed to, to the androgen stimulation so they didn’t form into fully-formed male organs which is why he had the type of external genitalia he had, which was somewhat ambiguous, which created the confusion throughout his life where people debated whether he is a female looking like a male or hermaphrodite… A true hermaphrodite … has both ovarian and testicular tissue. Yulanda Frederick only had testicular tissue.”

The pathologist said based on the look of Frederick’s deformed genitals, persons – even Frederick himself – may have been confused with his gender. He said on first glance, Fredrick’s genitals resemble that of a female with a large clitoris, but in reality it is a small penis with a small ‘vaginal pit’ – so small that it would have been impossible to insert a small penis in it.

“It looks like a small penis and a very normal type of vagina but actually he did not have a fully formed vagina. There is no upper vagina, there is just a lower ‘vagina’ so it’s almost like a blank pit with no cervix and uterus thereafter…” he explained.

Dr. King said Frederick may have been able to have a “certain amount of sex” with his penis. He said “biologically and physiologically” it is possible.

Yulanda Frederick attended school was a female.

With proper medical diagnosis and surgery, doctors would have been able to close the very small opening on Frederick’s genitals and create testicular sacks.

Dr. King said there is no way Frederick could have been impregnated because he had no cervix, ovaries or uterus.

Frederick was born on December 24, 1978 to Isidora Harrison and Francis Frederick. His mother is currently based in New York and his father lives in Anse La Raye.

Frederick attended Vide Bouteille Primary School and the Corinth Secondary School. During those years, he was dressed as a female.

In adulthood, he was well known to the police. He was charged for murder, attempted murder and firearm-related offences in 2010 but released earlier this year after the charges were dropped.

While in prison his gender was a matter of much debate as the authorities pondered whether to incarcerate him longer term in the male or female prison. At one point, he was separated from the male and female prison population.

The confusion over his gender have earned him much ridicule and rejection from society, according to his relatives and close friends. It is alleged that Frederick’s application for a passport was unsuccessful because his gender was not clear. Relatives say Frederick’s intention was to leave the island for better opportunities, and to also leave the criminal lifestyle.

Dr. King believes that Frederick’s criminal activity may have been fueled by the harsh treatment from some persons in society based on the confusion over his gender. The pathologist however made it very clear that he is not trying to find an excuse for Frederick’s alleged criminal activity.

No excuses should be made for Frederick’s behaviour but he may have turned against society based on how he was treated, says Dr. King.

“It is possible that a lot of frustration and anger in people can manifest in a variety of ways. Violence and aggression is one of them,” Dr. King said, noting that a psychiatrist would be better able to explain.

“It is quite plausible and it is quite likely that this did effect the way he behaved…. But we don’t make excuses for people’s behaviour, but I mean we do have to understand people’s behaviour so hopefully in the future we can learn our lessons,” he added.

Dr. King said it was possible that Frederick was given improper medical advice concerning his condition which led to the misinformation and eventual public scorn and ridicule. Dr. King added that with proper medical/psychological support from childhood, Frederick, his parents or guardians would not have appeared confused about his gender.

“And it shows that it is good for us to get appropriate medical advice, the good medical and proper work up so we can really support people who find themselves in these situations of what we call intersex, where there is confusion about their actual sexuality or their gender because of ambiguous genitalia.

“And it is important we get it right, not only because there is medical and surgical treatment we can do, but critical in their psychological treatment what we can do to help them to deal with their situation…. Understand it, deal with it and of course try to help them live as normal a life as they can,” he further explained.

Frederick’s post mortem revealed that he died from hemorrhagic shock secondary to gunshot wounds. Police sources say Frederick was shot about 15 times, including twice in the head.

According to sources, two guns were used in the killing. Investigations into the incident continues.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. King conducted the interview with St. Lucia News Online after getting consent to do so from relatives of Frederick.

A woman has been hospitalised following a shooting incident in Leslie Land, Castries Sunday night, July 6.

The woman, who works at the Marian Home for the elderly, reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to the leg while walking.

“She was just passing down Leslie Land and a stray bullet hit her,” said a resident who rant to the woman’s aid.

Residents reported hearing at least 15 gunshots in the Leslie Land, Castries area at about 8:40 p.m.

On investigation, the woman was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. It is unclear if she was the intended target.

“I am standing by her now,” an eyewitness said. “Ambulance just arrive (9:05 p.m.). She received a shot to the right lower part of her leg. Police just arrived on the scene.”

This is the third consecutive night that a shooting has taken place in Leslie Land and its environs.

On Saturday, July 5, 51-year-old Michael Gustave was shot in the stomach at about 7:30 p.m. while in Fond le Grand, Castries located behind Courts (between Wilton’s Yard and Leslie Land).

Reports are that about nine shots were fired in Gustave’s direction. One of the shots hit him on the right side of his stomach. It is believed that Gustave, a resident of Fond le Grand, was an innocent bystander who got caught in the crossfire. He was admitted to hospital in stable condition.

Gustave’s shooting occurred after two reports of shootings in the Leslie Land area of the city Friday night: one between 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the other around 11 p.m. Unconfirmed reports are that one person was injured in the earlier incident.

No one has been arrested in connection with three separate non-fatal shooting incidents which occurred in the Castries basin over the weekend.

According to police, all three victims were hospitalised and are in stable condition.

The first incident occurred at about 8:45 p.m. on Friday, July 4, and involved 20-year-old Quain Jn Louis of Leslie Land, Castries. He sustained multiple gunshots to the body whilst on Chausee Road, Castries.

The second happened at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday (July 5) when unknown person/persons fired several shots in the Fond Le Grand area. As a result, 51-year-old Michael Gustave of Fond Le Grand, Castries sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

The third shooting took place on Sunday, July 6, at about 8:30 p.m. Several shots were discharged in the Leslie Land area. As a result, Mary Claudia Francis of La Toc, Castries sustained a gunshot wound to the right leg.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has appealed to individuals who may have information on any of the shootings to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at telephone number 456-3770.

Kervin Phillip

The skeletal remains of a man found outside a shack in the heights of Choiseul over two months ago has yet to be identified.

Both relatives and police suspect the bones may belong to 38-year-old Kervin Phillip who has been missing since 2013.

Police had said in a press release in May that DNA testing was due to be done on the remains.

In an interview on June 10, a police source told Saint Lucia News Online (SNO) the testing was still being undertaken to determine the individual’s identity. That included taking mucus swab samples from family members and further tests.

Speaking to SNO on Friday, July 4, the source said that while all the samples have been taken, they have not been handed over to the forensics lab, neither the remains.

According to the source, the delay is not the fault of police investigators but instead is on the part of the lab “because there is a procedure that needs to be followed”.

“There are other important stuff that they are actually working on right now. They said as soon as they are through they will be contacting us and we will be handing over the stuff to them,” the source said.

A resident of Caffiere, Choiseul found the skeleton in an isolated and forested area between Reunion and Caffiere, Choiseul in May.

Two Choiseul families had claimed that the remains were that of their relatives.

According to the source, most of the evidence so far points to the body being that of Phillip.

Reports are that Phillip, who became a Rastafarian, went to live in isolation in the heights of Choiseul and would normally spend a whole year without contacting his family, but had not returned for a couple years.

However, a relative of a man named “Manistess” Stephen has also claimed that the bones could be his. Stephen has been missing for a few years now.

Serena

Thirteen-year-old Serena Cox, who allegedly ran away from her Beasejour, Gros Islet home on May 31 and was later found in a house in Union, Castries occupied by three males, has been released from foster care.

A source told St Lucia News Online (SNO) today (July 7) that the teenager is now in the care of her father and sister.

Cox was placed under protection by the Human Services Ministry when police found her, and was released later that month.

Serena’s guardian was accused of mistreating her, but a close family friend had told SNO that the teenager had all the luxury that a teenager would want and she was never mistreated by her guardians.

However, the family friend did said that Serena “did not respect the rules of her guardian’s house and did not seem to understand that her guardians could not allow her to go certain places or engage in certain activities for her own well-being”.

According to the family friend, it was not the first time that Serena disappeared from home.

“In my opinion she is the perfect definition of an at-risk teen. Her behaviour did not stem from her mother’s death as they are just finding out. She has been displaying such behaviour for a while,” the family friend explained.

Serena had been living with her guardians since April following the death of her mother from liver failure. Social Services had entrusted Serena in the care of the guardians.

A man was taken into custody for harbouring Serena. He was reportedly  the only one at the house with Serena at the time of the arrest.

It is unclear whether the man accused of harbouring Serena was released or still in police custody.

Fifteen-year-old George Charles Secondary student, Felicity Florton, who was brutally stabbed by a former schoolmate, has been released from hospital and is now recuperating at home.

Florton was released from Victoria Hospital on Saturday (July 5) after being hospitalised for close to one month.

She underwent a risky surgery on June 27 in which doctors were able to locate a hole in her lung that was causing severe internal bleeding.

The victim’s mother Heather Charles told St Lucia News Online (SNO) today (July 7), that once the operation was complete, Florton started to show signs of recovery.

Charles said she is happy and thankful that her daughter is out of hospital and is on the road to recovery. She said Florton would need proper care so that she can recover fully from the injuries she sustained during the stabbing incident.

Charles explained that the teenager is still in pain because of the stab wounds, but the pain is not as severe as before. According to her, Florton is now able to eat a bit more. The teenager has also expressed happiness that she is home.

Florton was stabbed multiple times in Pavee, Castries by 18-year-old Stephon Joseph of Pavee, Castries on Thursday (June 12). She sustained 11 stab wounds, one of which ruptured her lungs.

Florton also underwent a successful eye surgery.

One of Florton’s injuries.

Fifteen-year-old George Charles Secondary student, Felicity Florton, who was brutally stabbed by a former schoolmate, says she is “confused and angry “and is still trying to forget about the incident which nearly led to her death.

The teenager, who was released from hospital two days ago, told St Lucia News Online (SNO) in an exclusive interview, today (July 7) that she is still confused as to what may have led 18-year-old Stephon Joseph stabbing her multiple times.

Florton, who was reluctant to speak at first, paused for a minute and broke down in tears.

“I can’t explain the way I feel because everything keeps coming back, no matter how much I try to let it go. I don’t know when I will be able to let it go… I am confused because I don’t know what to do now,” she told SNO.

Florton said she is finding it hard to trust people again.

“I am going to stay away from people. I have a lot of anger right now and the best thing to do is to stay away from everyone,” she added.

Florton said she would advise young ladies to “be careful with whom they speak to and don’t go about trusting everyone”.

“People are never who you expect them to be and like they say never judge a book by its cover,” she added.

She told SNO she is looking forward to going back to school in September.

“I want to finish my education, but it’s to hang out with kids from the school, that will be the hard part.”

Meanwhile, the teen girl knew Joseph for one year. However, she told SNO that she ended things with him abruptly because her mother had asked her to stop speaking with him.

Florton said she never spoke to him again but would see him around. She recalled that on the day she was stabbed, Joseph saw her at the Blue Coral Mall and approached her saying that he wants to speak with her.

Florton said she was reluctant at first, but gave in after Joseph was insisting and was not about to give up. When she agreed to speak with him and they started talking, it led to an argument.

“He was trying to take me to his home…when I realised I told him I don’t want to go. I walked away and he keep asking me to come at his home and I keep telling him no,” she stated.

However, the two had already walked a far distance from the mall while talking. Florton said when she realised she was too far, she turned her back and told him she was leaving.

According to her, Joseph grabbed her hand and she pulled away with the intention of going back to the mall, when he pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the back.

“He pushed me and then when I tried to get up, he stabbed me in my back again and he pulled my hair and stabbed me in my face. He kept stabbing me in my back and all over my body,” Florton told SNO.

Asked what happened next, the teen girl said: “I got frustrated and I pushed him and started to run. But it wasn’t long after that I felt weak and fell and started screaming for help.”

Resident later saw Florton and came to her rescue.

Asked whether she feels that Joseph received the full penalty for his action, Florton said no: “He deserved more, they should never release him.”

However, when asked if she is afraid that he may want to harm her again, the teen girl said: “I am not afraid that he is out.”

Further, Florton told SNO: “The stab to my back affects my lungs. I have pain on my back. It’s difficult to sit and rest my back and I have to take hours to sleep because when I try to get up it hurts, and I cannot lie down anyhow.”

Florton’s mother Heather Charles told SNO that her daughter is having terrible nightmares and only last night she woke up hitting her “saying please leave me, don’t hurt me.”

Charles said she was having nightmares about the incident. While she is now able to eat, Florton has been depressed and distant from her relatives. However, her mother has been sending her for counseling.

The teenager’s hospital bill summed up to over EC$3,000.

Meanwhile, Joseph’s parents have given up their land surety to the court in order for him to be released. He currently has to visit the Criminal Investigations Department of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force every day at 7 a.m and 7 p.m.

Serena

Relatives of 13-year-old Serena Cox, who allegedly ran away from her Beasejour, Gros Islet home on May 31 and was later found in a house in Union, Castries occupied by three males., said they want justice for the teen.

One relative, who requested anonymity, told St Lucia News Online (SNO) in an exclusive interview that Cox claims she ran away from home because she was being treated unfairly by her previous guardians.

But the relative said, “I would not say so because I wasn’t there.”

According to the relative, there may be another reason why Cox decided to leave. However, the relative said that it is no reason for three adult males to take the minor in their house without calling the police. According to the relative, Cox claims that one of the men is her best friend who she confided in and asked to stay at his home after running away.

The relative believes the teen girl was taken advantage of and someone must be held responsible for it.

Further, the relative said she has little faith in the justice system in Saint Lucia, but is hoping that the individual responsible for harboring Cox is given the full penalty for his action.

Relatives said they were never contacted by the police regarding the investigations even though they made contact with them. They further commented that they are not satisfied with the outcome of the situation, and that apart from one of the three men being arrested, nothing else has happened. It is unclear whether he was released or is still in police custody.

But with all this, the relative told SNO that all efforts are being made to get the teenager’s life back on track.

“We experienced a little problem with her, but gradually we hope she will understand…we are hanging in there with her and trying to be with her,” the relative said.

The relatives are seeking to have the teen girl counseled. They said it may be hard to get her back in line, but they will try their best to ensure that she is led in the right path and that she takes more responsibility for her actions. Cox will be attending a new school in September.

The teen had been living with her guardians since April following the death of her mother from liver failure. Social Services had entrusted Serena in their care.  The teen is now living with other relatives, who have taken full responsibility for her.

Police  are investigating allegations that two brothers raped a six-year-old girl in Richfond, Dennery.

On June 25, 2014, a furious mother from Richfond, Dennery reported two brothers, ages 19 and 21, of Over the Bridge, Dennery for allegedly having sex with her six-year-old daughter.

The child reportedly told the mother about the sexual assault.

On the following day (June 26), a mob in the La Ressource, Dennery community tied up the two suspects with the intentions of harming them.

Officers immediately responded to the call that the men were being mobbed and took the two men into custody at the Richfond Police Station for their safety.

As of today, the matter is still being investigated by the Vulnerable Persons Team of the Vieux Fort Police Station.

The men have since been released pending the completion of VPT investigation.  Their names cannot be released unless they’re charged.

Yulanda Frederick (centre) was gunned down on July 1.

Reliable sources in the police force, Leslie Land and surrounding communities have labelled as “rubbish” and “utter nonsense” theories that last weekend’s violence in the inner city is linked to the recent homicide of Yulanda “Jordan” Frederick.

Last weekend, three civilians were shot and injured in three separate incidents, mainly in the Fond Le Grande, Castries community. Only one shooting took place in Leslie Land and it involved a resident from La Toc.

However, a police source with knowledge of the investigations told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) last weekend that none of the shootings are linked to the 35-year-old, who was shot at least 15 times in Leslie Land on Tuesday, July 1.
“The shootings involve two factions in the area of Wilton’s Yard and the slums near Fond Le Grand, and the police officers on the ground are aware of this, so any other insinuations are rubbish, rubbish, lies,” the source said.

“It’s not surprising that Frederick’s death would be used because of the character he was and the timing of his death but no one has begun to war yet over his death. His death killing has nothing to do with what’s going on in the city.

“The security minister (Victor La Corbiniere) needs to get up out of his air-conditioned office and get into the communities with the commissioners and interview people. I am sure he will get a totally different view…. He is too passive as a minister as national security,” the source added.

Persons close to Frederick also echoed similar sentiments. One of the sources say Frederick was not from Leslie Land where he was killed, so there is no reason for the shootings in the area. They claimed he was lured to the area and the killers are believed to be from another community.

“Awa, Jordan is from La Clery. He was only visiting Leslie Land when he was shot. Jordan has no click (crew) from Leslie Land. He lived in La Clery, he grew up La Clery… just pure nonsense them man talking, utter nonsense… If Jordan was from Leslie Land then we could say the war is over Jordan,” the source added.

The source further disclosed that Frederick was aligned to a gang before he went to prison. However, most members of that gang, including its “boss” (gang leader), have been killed.

“The man left prison. Yes he was still rolling with his friends, but he was not in a gang…. I would more say before prison, then there would be a bigger war. But awa, not right now. This war is between them fellas behind Courts (Fond Le Grand) and Graveyard,” the source said.

“The police knows this. They just need to go in and stop the nonsense.”

St. Lucia News Online understands that last weekend’s shooting stemmed from the shooting of a man on July 2 who is linked to the Wilton’s Yard area.

Since that shooting, there has been reprisals which have only placed innocent lives at risk.

The first incident occurred at about 8:45 p.m. on Friday, July 4, and involved 20-year-old Quain Jn Louis of Leslie Land, Castries. He sustained multiple gunshots to the body whilst on Chausee Road, Castries.

The second happened at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday (July 5) when unknown person/persons fired several shots in the Fond Le Grand area. As a result, 51-year-old Michael Gustave of Fond Le Grand, Castries sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

The third shooting took place on Sunday, July 6, at about 8:30 p.m. Several shots were discharged in the Leslie Land area. As a result, Mary Claudia Francis of La Toc, Castries sustained a gunshot wound to the right leg.

The source said only one incident involved the Leslie Land area – the shooting of Francis who is not even a resident of Leslie Land.

“Even a fool can see that. The lady from the Marian Home (Francis) was innocent, she was just happening to walk in the area when shooting broke out and she got shot….she from La Toc, not Leslie Land. The first two shootings took place near Chaussee Road and Fond Le Grand, not Leslie Land. Is the minister of national security paying attention?” the source questioned.

The sources further claimed that the minister and the police commissioners should speak the truth at all times and arrest the growing violence in the inner city communities.

“The morale of the force is at its lowest in many years. The US is not making our jobs easier, and neither is the government,” a police source claimed. “Too much cover-up, hiding and band-aid solutions just for the sake of tourism.”

Another source, who lives in the Wilton Yard’s community, said: “The criminals are getting smarter my boy… they using Yulanda shooting as a cover to war… but the police knows better…. Yulanda’s reprisal hasn’t started…. Deh need to go after the right people.”

Sources in Wilton Yard claimed their community is always the target of operations even though the police are aware who the troublemakers are.

“Police can’t stop nothing so stop asking dem to help…dat’s our life, we are soldiers..We on Gaza are not bad people but we are provoked by the b*** nigga who coming by the Grave Yard and bursting shots. It’s time we teach them a lesson…so best advice for your innocent citizens just keep away.

“We not shooting people for Jordan…Jordan not in our crew. We kill for the youth deh shoot in front the Grave Yard …Fellas shooting our pardners and police still coming in the Grave Yard, deh ain’t going Grass Street, Conway and Slums,” the source added.

St. Lucia News Online interviewed the majority of our sources last weekend during the shootings, but was waiting to get a comment from the national security minister or police commissioner before releasing this information. However, our meeting and interview with the security minister, which was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. today, July 9, was postponed by the minister’s office.

A planned meeting and interview with the police commissioner last month was postponed by the top cop at the last minute.

A St. Vincent national was shot and injured in La Pearle, Dennery in the wee hours of this morning.

Reports are that 34-year-old Cadet Joseph was sleeping in an open wooden hut when the gunman entered and fired a shot in his direction at about 1 a.m.

Joseph sustained a wound to his left thigh and was admitted at Victoria Hospital in stable condition.

Police sources say the suspect is also from St. Vincent.

The police are also investigating Joseph’s immigration status.

Victoria Charles-Clarke

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of St. Lucia Victoria Charles-Clarke has said that child sexual abuse is a “matter of grave concern” for the island.

Officials say there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of child sexual abuse in St. Lucia. Just this week, Saint Lucia News Online (SNO) learned of a recent case in Dennery where it is alleged that two brothers raped a six-year-old girl. That incident reportedly occurred in late June and is under investigation.

Speaking to media recently, Charles-Clarke said while much attention is being placed on murder cases, sexual abuse matters are the dominant offenses at the courts.

“I think all persons need to come on board to see how we can deal with this problem which I think is endemic.  Speaking from the criminal justice system [point of view] I see a lot of cases of child sexual abuse and the majority of cases of sexual abuse involve children. We are in a critical situation. I think here in this country, the emphasis is on murders that are being committed, however it might surprise the public to know that most of our cases are cases of sexual abuse,” she said.

Asked whether she believes child predators often escape the justice system she responded:  “Well I wouldn’t say they escape. I think the laws are there and once the reports are made and investigations are conducted and persons are charged, they go through the criminal justice system; but there are factors that cause a lot of these cases not to go through the full course of the judicial process.”

These factors, according to Charles-Clarke are “alarming” areas of concern. She listed the under-reporting of child sex crimes and the discontinuation of such cases by parents themselves as the two main reasons for the non-prosecution of sexual abuse cases.

“We see a lot of these cases where parents, surprisingly of children, indicate that they do not want the prosecution to continue. Also, we are aware, although we may not have the real evidence, that there are a lot of arrangements being made outside of the criminal justice system where persons enter agreements not to prosecute cases,” she stated.

The director of public prosecutions said she is convinced that these factors impact the successful tackling of child sexual abuse.

The Major Crime Unit of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) is investigating the shooting death of 28-year-old Clint Salvator of Agard, Morne Du Don – the 17th homicide this year.

At about 10:50 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2014, officers attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) responded to a report of shots being fired at Agard, Morne Du Don.

On arrival, they noticed a male, who was identified as Salvator, lying on a balcony floor of a dwelling house, being treated by medical personnel.

Salvator was transported to Victoria Hospital where he was admitted and treated for multiple gunshot wounds. At about 1:55 a.m. on Friday, July 11, 2014, Salvator succumbed to his injuries whilst admitted at hospital.

No one has been arrested in relation to this homicide, however officers are investigating.

If anyone has information that can assist in the investigation of this homicide, please contact the Major Crime Unit at telephone number 456-3754 or 999.

Clint Salvator, aka Fat Boy or Ghost

St. Lucia’s 17th homicide victim, 28-year-old Clint Salvator of Agard, Castries, is no stranger to violence.

Not only was Salvator charged for murder just over seven years ago, but he has survived attempts on his life.

Salvator, also known as Fat Boy, Ghost and Clint, was accused of stabbing 20-year-old Kenny Augustine of Morne Du Don, Castries in the chest area during an altercation on January 5, 2007 in Morne Du Don, Castries.

He was eventually released from prison but the reason for his release is not yet clear.

Salvator and his friends were also shot at during a drive-by shooting about two years ago. He was reportedly injured in that incident.

However, last night (Thursday, July 10), the killer/killers hit their target.

Reports are that Salvator was shot multiple times around 10:45 p.m. and succumbed to his injuries at Victoria Hospital at about 1:55 a.m. today, Friday, July 11, 2014.

A neighbour said Salvator was shot minutes after leaving the company of some friends.

“Fat Boy (Salvator) and two guys were just home discussing life,” said the resident. “They all unemployed ok. So the main discussion they had was about a shabin girl who claimed that Fat Boy had raped her so Fat Boy said he will try to take the young lady to court. Mitchel’s last words to him before Fat Boy and Plant went home was ‘just be strong’.”

“Now Plant and Fat Boy were on their way home when the masked men open fire. Now Plant ran back to Mitchel’s house to get help. Mitchel along with Vickery and his other brother went to the short cut and found him laying down in a neighbour’s balcony…. They tried to keep him alive by talking to him but he was gasping for air. Ambulance and police were called and he was taken to hospital and now he is dead. He got six shots in all,” the resident explained.

Friends say Salvator was trying to change his life but this plan has been cut short.