People who are minded to take advantage of the impact of Hurricane Beryl to engage in criminal activities have been urged to desist from doing so.
“Look, this is a time when I know that there are some selfish, criminally-minded individuals who want to take advantage of darkness, who want to take advantage of people’s vulnerabilities to hurt people or to get people’s property, steal it,” Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said in a national address Monday night.
“To the extent you are listening to me, please, don’t go there,” said Gonsalves, who is also minister of national security.
“I am relying on your families and your friends and your own conscience. But, be assured, the police are about, and I want to thank them for the work they have done thus far.”
He said acting Commissioner of Police, Enville Williams was slated to attend a meeting of diaster management officials later Monday night, adding that the security question is important.
“You see the frame in which the leadership of the country is seeking for us to build back better and stronger and firmer,” the prime minister said.
“We are not going ot allow a tiny minority of individuals to derail us in any way at all. I want to give that assurance.”
Gonsalves further urged people to be in good spirits despite the difficulties.
“The prophet Jeremiah advises the Hebrew people when they were in the hardship of Babylonian captivity, which we are not in, to be resilient, to be strong, to work together with a solidarity for themselves. This is what I am asking our people to do and I want to hammer home that message over and over again,” Gonsalves said.
“I want us to recover together. I want us to have solidarity with one another. I want us to show love for one another, build together.”
He asked people in their communities to “forget the little bickering about this or that. Let’s get together and work, let us do things together for the upliftment of yourself, your families, your communities and our country.”