Political leaders express sadness over J’ouvert stabbing

Scene of the incident on Monday morning
Scene of the incident on Monday morning

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Opposition Leader of the United Workers Party (UWP) Lennox Linton have both expressed sadness over the killing of a young man from Gallion on Carnival Monday.

Twenty six-year-old Ken Mitchell of Gallion was stabbed to death in the incident.

Prime Minister Skerrit described the incident as a “senseless murder.”

“I am really saddened by the situation,” he stated.

He mentioned that he visited the family of the deceased and the community of Gallion, which he said is in “total shock and mourning.”

“At a time when everybody should be enjoying themselves, people have to be consoling each other,” he stated.

The country’s leader said Carnival should be a time for enjoying oneself, “not be a place where we are looking for people who may have had some kind of problem with us in the past.”

“If you are leaving your home with a weapon, there is a strong possibility that you may use it,” the Prime Minister noted. “And we always keep saying to our citizens leave these weapons at your home, there is no reason why you should be walking with, whether it is an ice picker, whether it is a knife, whether it is a cutlass, a gun, whatever it is, you should leave it home.”

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Lennox Linton is wishing Mitchell’s family well, describing the incident as ‘tragic.’

“I also want to extend our condolences to the family of Ken Mitchell who passed in that tragic incident on Carnival Monday morning, and to wish his family well,” Linton said on Wednesday.

A 17-year-old has since been charged with murder in connection with the incident.

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18 Comments

  1. juice
    February 22, 2015

    A sense of deja vue nurse D boy die a same carnival like dat, condolences to the family of the deceased

  2. Rosey
    February 22, 2015

    That’s sad but the way Dominican people behave in carnival like no body can’t touch them like is war they going! People like that need stay home you dancing your hand touch them they ready fight travel all the way Canada to,enjoy dominica carnival had stop because of this foolishness! Not fear! this boys behave like animal sad! If I was in the Gov. Anyone catch with a weapon 5yrs jail! Killing life time! Hard labor!! My condolences to the family stay strong!!

  3. February 21, 2015

    alas alas jouvert we not even in the day boy people not easy.

  4. February 21, 2015

    alas alas por petite

  5. concerned tourist
    February 20, 2015

    Are the streets of Roseau so dangerous that a 17 year old believes that he must carry a weapon to protect himself? Also, is violence so common place in Dominica that the PM believes that a typical Dominican is likely to use deadly force if he is carrying a knife, cutlass, or in this case scissors? Condolences.

  6. Anthony Ismael
    February 20, 2015

    CPR should be mandatory in all schools as part of the curriculum. Additionally, I am very concerned that the murderer will be walking the streets of Roseau as a free man due to some “Cocoa Macaque” by the prosecution.

    Although it will not bring him back to life, it is time for some courage by all concerned on the island. It is time to reinstate “The Death Penalty.” I am sounding the trumpet loudly and aggressively for “Death by Hanging.” They who kill in cold blood shall be taken away from society. Unfortunately, some people do not know how to play in the sand box with others. We need to rid ourselves of these “Murderous Vermin” who pray upon their fellow men.

  7. The Facts
    February 19, 2015

    He should be sent for a psychiatrist assessment. He should be questioned on especially his life at home. What type of person is he? Does he become angry easily? Can he communicate properly? All these and more should be asked of him to determine what type of person he is. Why did he have a weapon and why did he stab the man. Is he remorseful?

  8. Ivory...
    February 19, 2015

    Shouldn’t you be wering gloves?

    • Ivory...
      February 19, 2015

      Wearing…correction.

  9. February 19, 2015

    Correction, should be ‘transported ‘
    not transmitted. :)

  10. February 19, 2015

    I am appall for the medical attention,
    administered to the stabbed victim.
    As I looked on, I did not see any
    emergency technician performing
    any CPR or applying pressure on the wound.
    Please somebody correct if I am incorrect.
    The severity of his injuries could be fatal,
    however, it appeared that nothing was done
    before transmitted to the hospital.

    • OneDestiny
      February 19, 2015

      You are so right. And I’m appalled at Dominicans in general. Do we not know how to save lives….nobody knew what to do to save his life? I think it’s about time they teach children CPR in school as part of physical education of Hfle. This is madness!

      • The Facts
        February 19, 2015

        They should also be taught about love, discipline and respect for others and their life. If this 17 year old, a teenager had this nurturing either at home or at school, would he have been carrying a weapon and in the band and stabbed the man to death? The blood of the man is on him.

    • whoistoblame
      February 19, 2015

      Why didnt you apply FIRST AID.Why didnt you go to the young man’s aid.Why were you just standing by?

  11. February 19, 2015

    Send the murderer to life imprisonment but find all those that were set free and send them to life also…the dead boy is dead for life while their family are in pain for life..,these murderers cannot be walking out freely except if their murder was due to self defence….

  12. derp
    February 19, 2015

    being saddened not going to bring the boy back to life…. ENFORCE THE DEATH PENALTY!

    • Jean senjoe
      February 19, 2015

      and enforcing the death penatly not going to bring him back either. :-? Jesossss my people and the thngs they say sometimes.

      • LawieBawie
        February 21, 2015

        You are correct when you say that the death penalty won’t bring him back to life, however it would certainly deter some other people from committing these crimes.

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