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Statement by Ministry of Health, Human Services and Family Affairs on Shooting at St. Jude Hospital

Contact: Roger Joseph

The Ministry of Health Human Services and Family Affairs strongly condemns a recent shooting of a patient at St. Jude’s Hospital, by two masked gunmen.

This disturbing incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, April 09th, when St. Jude Hospital admitted a male in his forties with multiple serious injuries to his arms and the upper part of his body. While being attended to by the staff of the institution, two (2) masked armed assailants forced their way into the ward and shot him three times to the upper part of his body before fleeing the compound.

Up to 12.30 p.m. on April 9th, doctors were still operating on the individual who is in a critical condition. This incident has severely traumatized the staff of the institution.

It is unfortunate, that while the Ministry of Health, Human Services and Family Affairs is doing everything within its power to preserve the lives of Saint Lucians and indeed visitors to our shores, that uncaring, unscrupulous individuals bent on perpetuating criminal acts, should terrorize members of staff and patients of the institution in such a fashion.

The Ministry strongly condemns such acts of violence. It is our hope that the ongoing police investigations will lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators of this unsavoury act, at the earliest opportunity. The police have provided additional security to St. Jude’s Hospital, and have also increased patrols around the compound to ensure that there is no repeat of such an incident.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND FAMILY AFFAIRS

April 09th, 2002

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