- 9 Years Since Rock Gutter Tragedy : St Vincent
- 7 Students die in Rock Gutter Accident
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and Opposition Senator Shevern John expressed sympathies to the relatives and friends of those who died nine years ago at the Rock Gutter, Owia, on the northeast coast of St Vincent.
On the 12th of January, 2015, a minibus carrying twenty-one people, eighteen of whom were students, were on their way to secondary schools in Georgetown, North Union and Kingstown when the bus careened off the road and plummeted into the surging sea at Rock Gutter.
“I want to remember by name those seven young people who died.“ Jamalie Edwards and his brother Jamall of the North Union Secondary School; Racquel Ashton of the Georgetown Secondary School; Glenroy Michael of the St. Vincent Grammar School; Anique Alexander of the North Union Secondary School. Our beloved, who are missing, are: Chanstacia Stay of the North Union Secondary School; and Simonique Ballantyne of the Georgetown Secondary School.
“I remember them dearly. The family of the deceased persons gave a plaque to me. And that plaque stands on the wall immediately in front of where I sit as Prime Minister daily. I see these students, these young people. They fortify me, They bolster me, They strengthen me and they give me inspiration to do the work that I’m elected to do with God’s will”.
“This has been a terrible tragedy, and I’m sure I speak on behalf of all members of this honorable house, on behalf of this side and the government and people in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Our solidarity with the families must be a matter of continuing pain for their grievous loss.“
Gonsalves anticipates that the grammar school will have a particular memorial for Glenroy, while North Union and Georgetown Secondary will remember Simonique and Anique, and North Union Secondary School will remember the others.
Meanwhile, Opposition Senator Shevern John expressed sympathy in remembrance of the deceased students.
“ it was a really sad time, and I know I have family members in that loss as well. I have spoken to parents on many occasions, and we still grieve because of their loss. As a mother especially, I feel it. I know the loss and the pain to get the news and I know, I was on the scene and it was a really horrific time“, John said.
The two men, Davanan Nanton and Ehud Myers, who were charged with seven counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deaths of the seven pupils at Rock Gutter, were acquitted in March of 2017.
