EDITOR: The Seventh-day Adventist Church is very much incensed and outraged by the senseless killing of two of the nation’s young men, whose lives were cut short in the prime of their days. We condemn this heinous act of barbarity and brutality in the most vociferous manner.

Our sympathy goes out to the parents of the deceased and to the young wife and daughter of Police Constable 400 Cozier. We also express solidarity with the constabulary on the untimely passing of one of their colleagues. We identify with your pain, sorrow and trauma at this sad time and encourage you to be steadfast and resolute in your resolve to deal with crime and violence in the land.

PC Cozier was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church at Mesopotamia and represented the values of the Christian faith. For a wife to be robbed of her husband, a child to be deprived of the privilege a father’s care and for parents to be plunged into such depth of grief at the hands of an assassin (or assassins) is most shocking and disturbing to the human spirit.

At this time of national outcry, we wish to emphasize the sacredness and sanctity of life given to us by the Creator, to be cherished, valued and lived for the glory of God and good of humanity. No man has the right to cold-bloodedly or callously take another’s life, which he cannot give. We call upon citizens, especially our young men who are bent on criminal means or retaliatory measures of dealing with problems, to reconsider their ways and seek for peaceful resolutions, in the best interest of preserving human dignity and civility.

Pastor Dermoth Baptiste

President, St Vincent and the Grenadines

Mission of Seventh-day Adventists