The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) in a press release strongly condemns the violent protest actions that occurred on the streets of Kingstown on Thursday, August 5, 2021, which resulted in an injury to the head of Dr. Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).
On the date in question, the Twelfth (12th) Sitting of the First (1st) Session of the Eleventh (11th) Parliament was convened. Simultaneously, there were protest actions in progress in the immediate vicinity of the parliament building and around Kingstown that were organized by the Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) and other organizations including, Trade Unions.
While the Honourable Prime Minister was returning to the parliament for the afternoon session with his security entourage, the protesters block the road leading to the parliament building. The Honourable Prime Minister and his security attempted to get to the parliament by foot. While doing so, a protester threw a projectile and struck the Honourable Prime Minister in his head, which resulted in a wound.
The Honourable Prime Minister was immediately taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) for medical treatment. He was later flown to Barbados for further medical treatment.
As a consequence of the injury to the Honourable Prime Minister, the Police launched an investigation and a suspect was arrested on suspicion and taken into custody.
On 6.8.2021 about 5:30 p.m. police charged Ms. Annamay Lewis, 56 years Vendor of Layou with the offence of wounding. According to the investigations, on 5.8.2021, the Accused allegedly unlawfully and maliciously wounded Mr. Ralph Gonsalves, 74 years Prime Minister of Old Montrose (Dasent Cottage) by striking him on the right side of his head with an unknown object.
The Accused will be arraigned before a magistrate on Monday, August 9, 2021, to answer to the charge. Charges are likely to be laid against other persons as the investigations continue.
While every citizen has the right under the Constitution to protest, it must be done peacefully, lawfully and responsibly. The RSVGPF implore persons who wish to protest to do so without breaking the laws of the country and; or impeding the rights of other citizens.
