One murder for 2019 – according to the RSVGPF

Of the three homicides here so far for 2019, only one is considered a murder by the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF).

The first killing for 2019 came on Thursday January 10 in Pole Yard, Arnos Vale. On that day, 21-year-old Pole Yard resident Osborne “Rat” Rodgers, a labourer, originally from Barrouallie, was shot after 11 pm, while he was hanging out in a shack with some friends.

The second killing was that of Ricardo Geraldo John also known as Ricky or Caveman. John was wounded on Wednesday, January 30 at around 3 pm in Arnos Vale in the vicinity of Options Supermarket.

The man originally detained for this killing was released after investigations revealed that he acted in self-defence.

Also dying violently this year was Alwyn “Bunnie” Browne. Browne was shot and killed by police in Ottley Hall on March 5 while he was at a friend’s house.

According to a police report, “members of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) executed a search warrant on Mr Alwyn Browne aka “Bunnie” of Ottley Hall. When the police approached the subject, he shot at the police. The Police returned fire, injuring him.”

Commissioner of Police (COP) Colin John told SEARCHLIGHT on Friday that only Rodgers’ death is being considered a murder. He said the RSVGPF is doing all in its power to keep down the crime rate.

Last year, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) recorded 34 killings, seven of which were committed in the first quarter. The only other Eastern Caribbean country to record a single homicide in the period January to March 2019 is Antigua and Barbuda.