We will not let this sort of copycat crime take root here – PM

Police are said to be pursuing vigorously the perpetrators of the recent abduction of business executive, Jimmie Forde.

Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Ralph Gonsalves, addressing a press conference yesterday, gave the assurance that such crimes {{more}}would not be allowed to take root in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Gonsalves said he learnt about what had happened to Forde when he arrived in Trinidad at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, on his way home from Ecuador.

“He had been taken physically and left. His vehicle was taken and the persons were masked,” Gonsalves told reporters yesterday at a press conference.

Gonsalves said he spoke with Forde Sunday and was happy to hear that he was okay, physically.

“It could so easily have been worse. He (Forde) said that the police responded very quickly in being on the road looking for him to find him first.”

The Prime Minister declined to go further into details of what Forde had told him, since the matter is under criminal investigation.

Gonsalves said he has been in contact with acting Commissioner of Police Renold Hadaway and the head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) ASP Sydney James since the incident.

“When I came, he (acting commissioner) met me at the airport. He met me and spoke to me last night and this morning already. This morning, it was reported to me that the car was found somewhere in the upper Montrose area,” Gonsalves said.

The Prime Minister also said he has since spoken with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Godfred Pompey and consultant to Ministry of National Security Sir Vincent Beache.

“I want to assure everybody that we have a lot of officers on this case and we are pursuing vigorously the persons who are responsible for this crime.

“This kind of copycat activity out of neighbouring countries, such as Trinidad, aren’t going to take root here. We are taking a tough line on this, as we do on all crimes. I just want to state that and give the assurance to the public,” Gonsalves said.

Forde was accosted by two gunmen at North River Road at about 1:25 a.m. on July 13, placed in the trunk of his car and taken to Sion Hill Bay, where he was robbed, tied up and left.

He is a senior executive of Coreas Hazells Inc, a member company of Goddard Enterprises Ltd, and chairman of the board of directors of the Postal Corporation.