By Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Wednesday 29th May 2024)- In response to violence affecting the Hamilton community, Premier Mark Brantley has announced plans for heightened security measures, revealing plans aimed at enhancing safety.
“I’m pleased to say to the press that in the aftermath of that violent confrontation in Hamilton, which led to the loss of a young woman, and serious injuries to her brother, I have been in close contact with the Honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Drew, who is also the Minister of National Security.” He made the disclosure during his monthly press conference held on Tuesday 28th May 2024.
The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) is currently conducting investigations into the shooting incident which unfolded in the Hamilton community on Friday 24th May 2024, claiming the life of Joelle Huggins and leaving her brother, Julian Huggins, critically wounded.
Brantley added: “I have also been in contact with the High Command, the Commission of Police, Mr. Sutton, and the Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Ministry, Mr. Daniel, who normally engages on security matters, and we will be rolling out a number of new initiatives in the Hamilton area and the wider Nevis.
We have already started with enhanced patrols, saturated patrols in Hamilton. We will also be engaging in some other efforts in Hamilton in order to bring greater comfort to the residents there. Hamilton, for those of us who know it, is a beautiful community, where people have invested in beautiful homes, and very much, very much an upper middle class type community in terms of the quality of housing, and the quality of persons who reside there, and I believe that they themselves must be quite shocked at what is unfolding in their midst.” According to him, “I believe that the people of Hamilton deserve better.
We have noticed, and the police have reported, that the – LOCAL NEWS – Hamilton community has been the only community marred by violence in Nevis for the year thus far. And we are hopeful, we are hopeful that there are no additional cases of violence in that area.
We extend heartfelt condolences.” He added: “I believe that the violence that we’re seeing across our country, across our region, that we need to take a very serious look at what has been happening, and that these young people who continue to engage themselves in these types of acts must be brought to justice,” Premier Brantley continued. “I’m aware that crime, as I often say, is a social problem.” “What I mean by that is that somebody always knows what’s happening.
There are mothers out there, parents out there, girlfriends, there are mothers out there, parents out there, girlfriends, friends who are hiding contraband, who are hiding firearms, who are protecting these criminals. I want you to know that you are enabling the destruction of our country.
And we cannot continue to just talk about it. We need action, and so to that end,” Premier Brantley emphasized. He urged residents to assist law enforcement in apprehending perpetrators and ensuring community safety, saying: “I am calling on all of the residents of Hamilton, as I continue to call on all the
residents here in Nevis, and the wider Federation, to assist our police to bring these perpetrators to justice, and to allow all of us to enjoy the peace dividend, so that we can live in peace, we can function in peace.” Police on Nevis are also investigating a shooting incident that occurred in Hamilton on Sunday 5th May 5th between 9AM and 10AM. Preliminary investigations suggest that shortly after leaving his home, Raphael Wallace Jr. of Hamilton was accosted by a masked assailant while in his stationary vehicle.
Police say Wallace reported that the assailant approached from the side and fired several times at his vehicle before escaping into nearby shrubbery. No injuries were sustained during the attack. In relation to the shooting incident involving the sister and brother, police preliminary reports indicate that such occurred between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM, when two armed assailants accosted the siblings as they were seated inside a vehicle outside their home in Hamilton.
Police say responding to the scene outside the victims’ home, officers observed Mr. Huggins laying in a vehicle with bullet wounds to the left leg and abdomen. Reportedly, he was immediately transported to the Alexandra Hospital where he was treated and has since been warded in stable condition.
Ms. Huggins was observed on the ground some distance from the vehicle with bullet wounds to the body. She was examined and pronounced deceased at the scene. Initial investigations suggest that both Mr. and Ms. Huggins were seated inside the vehicle when they were accosted by two (2) armed assailants.
The Crime Scene Unit of the RSCNPF processed the scene and collected some items of evidential value. Police are encouraging that should anyone have any information about this or any other criminal incident, to contact the nearest Police station, or call the Crime Stoppers’ hotline, 707.
The RSCNPF expresses heartfelt condolences to all who have been negatively impacted by this incident.
