Barbarism will never triumph over us – PM

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has commented on the unnatural times being experienced as he spoke last Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the funeral for the second of two men of Park Hill who were murdered and their bodies burnt.

The Prime Minster spoke about Vincentians watching crime scenes on television from the Middle East and other parts of the world, observing, “…. it looks as though we had Gaza in Park Hill not too long ago” referring to the grim discovery of the bodies of Marvin Barker and Kelvert ‘Vert’ Smart that were bound together and warned of the unnatural times in which we live.

“We are watching today, a set of unnatural circumstances, and our people are showing that they will not allow evil to overcome goodness, nor barbarism to triumph over civilization,” he said optimistically.

He reminded mourners that the general expectation was for sons to bury their mothers; however, on Sunday, a mother was burying her 32 year old son.

The prime minister indicated that this was an unnatural situation, as Marvin and Vert met their deaths in sudden and unnatural circumstances.

Speaking further about the manner in which the men were killed, Gonsalves said, “ it is very difficult to contemplate a death more horrendous and so wicked and so evil that loved ones can’t even open the casket”.

“Those who think that they could triumph over us with barbarism…we are a civilized people, and barbarism will never triumph over us.”

Describing the deceased as a young man with dreams, the prime minister expressed his personal condolences and that of the government, to the loved ones of the murder victim.