Police still investigating Union Island rape or elderly woman

Investigations into the rape of a 79 year old woman of Union Island, are continuing. Someone was taken into custody in connection with the violent incident, but was released for want of evidence, a police source told SEARCHLIGHT.

After the woman was brutally raped on Sunday December 15, 2024 at her home in Union Island, investigators were led to someone from the mainland, who it is alleged, was found with several items belonging to the victim, including her Vincentian identification (ID) card.

During the attack, the elderly woman was badly injured and had to be taken by the Coast Guard to the mainland for medical attention. She is said to have fought with her attacker who demanded money, and used a knife to subdue her, after which he raped her.

It is alleged that the attacker gained entry to the damaged home by cutting through the tarpaulin that was used to cover the elderly woman’s roof.

The damaged home is located in a remote area of the island, and the violated woman had to wait until daybreak to report the attack on her.

On July 1, 2024, Union Island was ravaged by Hurricane Beryl. Since then, islanders have complained that people from the mainland, with the help of a few Union Island residents, have been committing crimes on the island ranging from petty theft to burglary, with the rape of the 79 year old woman being the most serious so far.

Earlier this month, several persons, including Union Island resident, Abdon Whyte, called on law enforcement to do something comprehensive about the security situation on the hurricane ravaged island.

Whyte is the Liaison Officer to the Ministry of Grenadines Affairs, and was last July appointed by Cabinet to assist with the response and recovery effort on Union Island in the wake of Hurricane Beryl.

Speaking on WE FM during the Issue at Hand programme on Sunday January 5, 2025, Whyte said the rebuilding work has been progressing, but security is a big issue and people are anxious and scared because of some of the things that have been occurring.