By Steve Thomas Observer Nevis Editor
(Charlestown, Nevis) ” While murder rates in other nations have fluctuated since mid-2008, another review of published international statistics shows that the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has the second-highest per capita homicide number in the world. The 20th murder of the year keeps the Federation on a statistical pace to reach 22 murders by the end of 2008. These are the top 10 per capita homicide rates in the world in nations not involved in an ongoing war or terror campaign: El Salvador 55.3 St. Kitts/Nevis 51.53 Sierra Leone 50 Honduras 49.9″ Venezuela 49.4 Jamaica 49 Guatemala 45.2 Angola 40 South Africa 38.6″ Colombia 37 In June, Sierra Leone was not ranked and Angola was not in the top 10. Murder rates in South Africa and Colombia have declined since mid-year. The Federation was not included on the list published on Wikipedia. According to Robert Niles, who writes a Web site, “Statistics Help For Journalists,” here is the formula to determine per capita murder rate. “Simply divide the number of murders by the total population of the city (country). To keep from using a tiny little decimal, statisticians usually multiply the result by 100,000 and give the result as the number of murders per 100,000 people.” The U.S. State Department lists the population of the Federation at 42,696. The Observer staff used the following formula to arrive at the ranking: (22/42,696) x 100,000 = 51.53. In 2006, there were 17 murders and in 2007, there were 16 murders. The 20th murder was that of Llewellen “Mike” Martin, 54, who was found lying in a pool of blood at his Cotton Ground home Sunday, Nov. 23. A post mortem examination of the body revealed he died as a result of trauma and shock due to multiple stab wounds to his body and neck. One man is in custody, but police have not said if charges will be filed. The 19th victim was Omar Stancliffe, 23. He was gunned down by two masked men on the night of Nov. 11 on St. Kitts. No one has been charged in the case. Alejandro Nisbette, 58, originally of the Dominican Republic and residing on Nevis, was killed with a machete on Oct. 30. His body was found near the Nevis airport. His nephew, Sandy Nisbette, has been charged with the murder.” . Darren Gibson, 22, of Tabernacle was fatally shot while sitting on the side of the road in the vicinity of the Mansion Domino Club on Sept. 27. He was fired upon by an assailant hiding in nearby bushes. No one has been charged in the murder. On Sept. 23, Kenneth Smithen, 48, of Charlestown was shot dead in front of his house. No one has been charged in the murder. Charges have been brought in eight other murder cases. Those are: -Mr. Steve Pemberton, 30, of Ottley’s Village was gunned down in Ottley’s Village late on the night of Aug. 23. On Tuesday, Aug. 26, Delvin Benjamin, 21, of Cabbage Tree Project in Cayon was charged with Mr. Pemberton’s murder. – Elroy Williams of Crab Hill, Sandy Point, was charged for the murder of Delvis Romney, 23, of Parson’s Village on Aug. 14. Mr. Romney was shot at a bar in Lynches on August 11. – Lester Tross of New Road and Malvy Drew of Middle Island were charged on July 14 for the murder of Shamari Williams, 23, of New Road. Mr. Williams was shot while driving on July 5. He died on July 6. – Jomi Rawlins, 19, Clyde Norford, 25, Nelson Challenger, 18, Shenroy Francis, 18, and a 17- year-old juvenile, all of St.Paul’s Village, were charged on April 30 for the murder of Gregory Zakers, whose body was found at Black Rocks on April 12. – Wycliffe Liburd surrendered himself to police and was charged for the murder of Charles “Abaloo” Benjamin, 32, on April 22. Mr. Benjamin was murdered on April 18. – Bishu Isaac was charged on April 19 for the stabbing death of Tau Gowon, 26, of Delisle Garden, who was killed on April 18. – Lionel “Shaggy” Warner surrendered himself to police and was officially charged on April 7 for the April 4 murder of Alphonso “Bobo” Richards, 25.” Other unsolved cases are: – About 9:30 p.m. on July 5, Darnel Webster, 18, of Sundown Road was shot multiple times as walked down the road. No one has been charged in the case. – In the early morning of June 11, police went to Marion Street in Charlestown and found the body of Leon Hendrickson, 29, of St. Kitts, who resides at Stoney Grove, Nevis. He was walking home when he was shot. Police believe the murder was gang related. – Police responded to a report of gunshots being heard in Molineux on Thursday, May 22, at about 8 p.m. On arrival they found Eston Sharry, 23, alias “Phat” of Phillips Road, Molineux, lying on his back in the road. He had multiple wounds to his body and was motionless. – Police are investigating the May 19 homicide which claimed the life of Chesil Fraites Richardson, 25, of Conaree Village. – A double homicide occurred in mid-March. Mr. Leon Willock, 20, of Dorset Village and Mr. Orlando Williams, 25, of Buckley’s Site were reported missing near noon on March 18. A subsequent search of their last known whereabouts led to the discovery of their bodies about 3 pm. Mr. Willock’s body was found in a marijuana patch and the body of Mr. Williams was found nearby in a ghaut Mr. Williams died as a result of hemorrhage and shock secondary to gun shot to the head. Mr. Willock died as a result of hemorrhage and shock secondary to gun shot to the abdomen. – On March 11, Mr. Derrick Gumbs Jr, ,was shot about 10:50 p.m. Officers responded to a report of gunshots at Neverson Street, Newtown. They arrived on the scene and found the body of Mr. Gumbs, who had sustained gunshot wounds. – The first killing of 2008 occurred on Nevis. Leon “Gravo” Westerman, 28, of Low Street, Charlestown, died of multiple gunshot wounds after being transported to Alexandra Hospital. Police were called to the scene of the shooting in downtown Charlestown just before midnight, Jan. 28. No arrests have been made in this case.
