No attempt on my life was made – deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Sir Louis Straker is assuring Vincentians that there was no attempt to take his life last Sunday morning.

“I want to allay the fears of my supporters and the ULP supporters around the country and in the world that I am safe and sound and nothing is wrong with me and it was not, as the report was given, an attempt on my life and not an outplay of the desperation of the NDP,” he said, while calling in to Star Radio on Tuesday.{{more}}

The Central Leeward representative told listeners that while there had indeed been a shooting in the area, it was between his security detail and alleged burglars of a nearby supermarket.

“I had vigilant security people here who saw what was happening.

“A vault was stolen from the supermarket here and a boat came in. As a matter of fact, the one man they caught came all the way from Prospect; another one came from Dorsetshire Hill and the gentleman who got shot in the chest, he got surgery yesterday, he was crying out for help on the beach right next to me…,” Straker said.

The deputy prime minister said he believed that many persons thought that the shooting was an attempt on his life because of “the desperation” of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) since their loss after the December 9 general elections.

“It is one act of desperation after another that has led the people to think that there was an attempt on my life, because they figure these folks won’t stop at anything,” Straker noted.

According to a March 29 release from the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, an investigation had been launched into a burglary that took place at Triple S Supermarket in Layou between 8:30 p.m. on March 26 and 7:30 a.m. on March 27.

“A police officer on the road leading to Sir Louis Straker’s residence at Layou about 3:45 on March 27, 2016 saw three mask[ed] men and shouted to the men. One of the men reportedly put his hand to his side and shots were fired,” the release said.

According to the release, the men ran and left a vault.

Niron Morgan was later found on the beach with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH). The press release also indicated that the vault that was left behind was later identified as belonging to Triple S mini-mart.

Police say they are in search of Godwin Sam to assist with the investigations.(CM)