Minister Commends Medical Students and the General Publicfor Assistance Rendered during recent Shooting Incident
PRESS RELEASE – Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and National Security the Honourable Hermangild Francis on Friday, June 1 took the opportunity to thank everyone who assisted in providing first aid in the aftermath of a very violent flare – up on Peynier Street, Castries on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. The incident left one dead, and others suffering from gunshot wounds. The injured included one student.
Minister Francis took the opportunity to especially thank two fourth year medical students who came to the assistance of the injured who were lying about the sidewalk unattended for a short while, before the medical services arrived.
Minister Francis said: “Today on behalf of the Government of Saint Lucia, I wish to recognize these two elective students at the Victoria Hospital, Mr. Samuel Walton of Bournemouth and Matthew Carter of Newcastle. They are fourth year Medical students of the University of Birmingham who happened to be in the area at the time. According to eyewitness reports and reports of local medical personnel these young men were instrumental in attending to the injured before medical professionals arrived on the scene.”
Minister Francis also reiterated his full support for efforts being made by the City Police and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) to keep the city safe.
Minister Francis also expressed concern that random acts of violence are being perpetrated in the midst of innocent citizens going about their daily lives. This he described as completely unacceptable.
“I wish to commend regular citizens who assisted and I also commend our city police, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and the emergency responders.
Since the incident we have also learned that two visitors to our island were also on hand to lend assistance. Unlike a lot of negative things which go viral on the internet, we were pleased that a photo of two young men helping the wounded received such a positive response”.
The medical students who leave the island on Saturday June 2, having completed their internship at Victoria Hospital indicated they were very honoured to render the assistance that they have been trained to carry out. They appealed to the public to have the confidence to assist others in times when they can, in order to save lives.
Tokens of appreciation were presented to the medical students.
Meantime, Minister Francis who leaves the state on government business over the weekend has expressed concern for the ailing student who was a victim of the broad daylight shooting. The Minister wishes the student speedy recovery and will follow-up on her recuperation upon his return to island soon.
Minister Francis, Sir, we do not know,neither have we met each other yet,
but I’ve been observing and I think that you have taken your job very seriously.
Growing up in Castries, I knew there was a C.T.B. (a town Board) and we kids
had a name (as usual) for CTB. But you have turn things around, and I like that.
As a Minister in Cabinet, you do have a voice. May I ask you for one favor; that
is, when the question of crime in the City is come up, please raise your voice,
tell them that the Law needs some heavy duty Teeth.The shooting must stop.
I’ve stopped telling my friends to visit the great Castries Market on your visit to
Castries – sad indeed. The scum with their deadly Toys must be flushed out of
that City and every where else found. If we can achieve that much of a stability
in the community by making some noise, then victory from V.F to Gros Islet is
a definite possibility. It bothers me that the great churches are so silent on the matter.