Douglas expresses sympathy to Joseph family; Concern over disturbing trend of businessmen killed

CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS, AUGUST 22^ND 2017 – Monday’s death of Nevis businessman, Benjamin Joseph, shot by a lone gunman last Saturday 19^th August is the fourth businessman to be killed this year.

A businesswoman was murdered in 2016 and five businessmen were killed in 2016, according to statistics.

The death of Joseph brings the number of murders in Nevis this year to 7 and a total of 18 in St. Kitts and Nevis. 18 murders were recorded in 2012; 21 murders in 2013; 24 murders in 2014; 30 murders in 2015; and 30 murders in 2016.

“Crime is still the number one social issue that confronts us here in St. Kitts and Nevis. It is indeed painful. Apart from the young people who are involved in gun violence and are the victims of gun violence, we see a very disturbing trend where businessmen are now becoming targets and victims in this ongoing, unprecedented high crime rate,” said former prime minister, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas in expressing sympathy to the family of Joseph.

The 63-year-old businessman and owner of Philsha’s Guest House was gunned down as he arrived at his Pinney’s Beach home. He was shot multiple times and later died of his injuries at the Alexandra Hospital.

The murders for 2017 are:

Murder # 1 – January 29^th– 44-year-old Leon Gumbs of Morning Star, Nevis found dead in his home with two gunshot wounds to the body.

Murder #2 – February 1^st – 39-year-old Venezuela-born Cash for Gold businessman, Luis Garcia, was shot and killed mid-morning on Manchester Ave, St, Kitts.

Murder # 3 – March 10^th – 54-year-old Ashton Christopher of Taylors Village, St. Kitts was stabbed to death.

Murder # 4 – March 25^th – 15-year-old Ashanafi Saddler was stabbed to death at Janet Alley, St. Kitts, by his 21-year-old brother Kareem Chumney.

Murder # 5  – March 26^th – Rondell Chapman of Rawlins Village, Gingerland, Nevis, shot and killed.

Murder # 6 – March 28^th – Akeem ‘Ratty’ Bryan was shot dead in Newton Ground, St. Kitts.

Murder #7 – April 17^th – 28-year-old Cotton Ground villager,  Morella Webbe was shot and killed.

Murders # 8 and #9 – April 25^th – 21-year-old Elvis Lawrence and 25-year-old Shariff Williams of Cotton Ground, Nevis, shot and killed.

Murder #10 – May 9^th – Gregory Mills, a Pizza businessman shot and killed at Gillard’s, St. Kitts.

Murder #11 – June 2^nd – 37-year-old Lydia Jacobs was gunned down outside her home in Church Ground, Nevis.

Murders #12 and #13 – June 3^rd – 41-year-old businessman Sean “Spajal” Smith of Taylors and 46-year-old Dennis “Bun Up” Liburd of Mc Knight gunned down at Taylor’s Village, St. Kitts.

Murder #14 – June 6^th – 32-year-old Jahma Francis of St. Paul’s, St. Kitts was shot and killed.

Murder #15 – June 14^th – Body of missing 17-year-old Leanna Napoleon of Keys found in a shallow grave at Olivees Mountain.

Murder #16 – June 24^th – Darnell Govia of Phillips’ shot and killed at the J.N. France General Hospital, St. Kitts.

Murder #17 – July 4^th – Kishorne “Duppy” Edwards shot and killed in his vehicle in Ottley’s, St. Kitts.

Murder #18 – August 21^st – Benjamin Joseph died after he was shot and injured on August 19^th at Pinney’s Beach, Nevis.

*This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKN PULSE. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical errors within press releases and (or) commentaries. The views contained within are not necessarily those of SKN PULSE.