PM ON MORUGA KILLINGS

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has expressed shock and anger over the Moruga double-murder.

Transcript

00:00Dr. Heath Rowley has expressed shock and anger over the Moruga double murder.

00:0424 hours after the horrific incident in which gunmen snuffed out the lives of five-year-old

00:10Anika Gera and her father Enrico Gera, Dr. Rowley said he was, quote, shocked and angered

00:17by the barbarism that could result in violent criminal conduct with total disregard for human

00:24life in our country, which could see an adult with a firearm deliver several shots into the

00:28body of a five-year-old child. This, and acts like these, represent the worst of what we are

00:34and what we have produced, end quote. The Prime Minister vowed to, quote,

00:38relentlessly pursue those who so wantonly assault our safety and security.

00:42Our national efforts must not waver, heartless perpetrators will be identified,

00:47and justice will be served towards the end of eliminating this scourge from our country,

00:51end quote. Police have intensified their efforts to apprehend the suspects in the

00:57killing on Tuesday night of five-year-old Anika Gera and her father Enrico Gera.

01:02Investigators told TV6 News that they are working on certain leads relative to the suspects,

01:07and as part of their actions, they have also stepped up patrols in the Moruga area to ensure

01:12the safety of the residents there. Gera and his daughter were shot dead inside his mini-mart at

01:17Pui Junction, St. Mary's Village in Moruga. A group of gunmen started firing at Gera from a

01:23distance while he was standing outside his business place with another man around 9.45 pm.

01:29One of the masked gunmen chased Gera inside and shot him several times while he was attempting

01:34to shield his daughter, who was also shot multiple times. Gera died at the scene,

01:38while his daughter succumbed to her injuries at the Princess Town District Health Facility.

01:43Following the incident, MP for Moruga, Tebalan, Michelle Benjamin, called on the police to step

01:48up patrols in the area and also pleaded with the Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hines,

01:53to step up efforts to rid the area of criminal elements.