From left to right: Helen Gobat, Peter Foster and Theo Gobat.
The parents of slain Saint Lucian hotelier Oliver Gobat is offering an EC$250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of suspects in his killing.
The announcement was made today at a special press conference held at the Cap Maison Resort. Oliver’s mother and father, Helen and Theo Gobat, along with their attorney Peter Foster, were the ones to make the announcement.
Helen told a large gathering of media operatives today that the untimely death of her son has caused the entire family severe emotional pain, describing it as a state of “limbo”.
“I would like to see the evil people who brought this upon Olie, brought to justice for Olie’s sake, for our sake and for the sake of Saint Lucians and everybody who visits this wonderful island,” she said.
Both parents believe that Olie was killed by more than one or two persons. “It is horrible to say that your son is murdered in Saint Lucia,” Helen said.
Asked whether they are satisfied with the work being done by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), Helen replied to say, as a parent, she would have rather have things done faster.
“I think they were some basic mistakes, where the car and the body were moved and the crime scene was not cordoned off, which makes it difficult to investigate down the line,” Helen added.
However, she said Saint Lucia is a small country and it doesn’t have a “super efficient” police force like those in the United States and United Kingdom.
She said local police lack the experience on how to deal with crime of that magnitude and said this is understandable because there is not much crime like that happening here.
Helen also revealed that the family has employed a forensic team from the United Kingdom to help with the investigations. This was made possible with the help of friends and family, who all created a fund for the late Oliver Gobat.
According to her, the government has endorsed the forensic team and the RSLPF has accepted to work alongside the team in their investigations.
“We are hopeful that these things turn up, it takes some time, some of the members of the team resolved crimes 25 years old in England,” she told the local media.
Meanwhile, Oliver’s father Theo said he thinks that Oliver’s killers will be brought to justice, but it might take some time for this to happen. “We will never give up, we will keep on trying until we get answers,” he asserted.
Asked whether they are fearful for their lives, following their son’s gruesome murder, Helen said, “to a point yes, Oliver was killed unexpectedly, unpredictably and outrageously, so how we know that the same people are coming for us? It’s not the same kind of feeling in Saint Lucia for us.”
Theo expressed similar sentiments. He said he feels uneasy every day since his son’s killing. “I do look over my shoulder more often than I would do. It’s not the quiet peaceful place I remember. It is a troubling time.”
Further, the family attorney said the possibilities of the crime being a high-profile hit, with roots beyond these borders, are also being investigated.
Questioned on comments made by friends of Oliver in the international media where they hinted that he (Oliver) might have been in a deal, which went wrong and later led to his execution, Foster said there are no links to those allegations. However, the family attorney did say that Oliver was involved in business transactions here at the time of his death.
Oliver’s parents are also pushing to get foreign assistance in the investigation. In July the RSLPF asked for assistance from the United Kingdom, but was blocked.
The family has since written the Commonwealth office, seeking a resolution and trying to get the much-needed assistance to help local police to investigate their son’s killing.
Oliver was a Saint Lucia, British and Australian citizen.
Helen said the family has received a lot of love and support from staff at the Landings Resort and many Saint Lucians, friends and relatives and have expressed their deep appreciation for the support.
The family is asking anyone who has information relating to Oliver’s death to step forward and provide the information. They can do so by making contact with the Justice for Olie Hotline on 1 -758 -720- 5543 or email justiceforollie@hotmail.com
Oliver’s body was cremated on October 27. His ashes were scattered off Smuggler’s Cove Beach on November 17 to commemorate his 39th birthday.
Oliver Gobat’s body was found in his Range Rover on Cap Estate on April 25 burnt beyond recognition.