Leader of the Opposition: Threats to Members of Judiciary Must Cease

It is with shock and dismay that I have observed in recent days the public threats against the life of Honourable Justice Eddy Ventose by certain individuals on social media.  Over the last few days, even after appeals to cease such offensive and irresponsible behaviour by the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association, the life threats have continued and have become even more vulgar and explicit.

In my capacity as the Leader of the Opposition of St. Kitts and Nevis, I strongly condemn such bullying and disrespect of a distinguished member of our judiciary.  It is indeed an act of pure cowardice when persons in our society hide behind pseudonyms and fake profiles to injure the reputation and make threats to the life and security of others.  Such attacks should never be tolerated. They are further evidence of the new and unprecedented low to which the political discourse of our society has sunk.  I have spoken out on numerous occasions in the past about the prevalence of cyberbullying that has been targeted against myself, the former Police Commissioner and many others who have spoken out fearlessly in defence of Democracy and the Rule of Law and who are considered offensive to the current Harris-led Administration. 

I reiterate my call on the Attorney General and Minister of National of Security to denounce such acts and to investigate the identities behind these fake profiles as a matter of grave urgency.