Expressing horror over the murders of four members of a Chatham family, outgoing Point Fortin MP Paula Gopee-Scoon yesterday called for mediation and intervention to prevent any further violence.
Police believe the murders were linked to the murder of villager Stephon Sinnette, 33, at Chatham South Trace last week Wednesday. He was shot by his neighbour after an altercation.
Yesterday around 6.30 am, the bodies of Grace Toussaint, 55, her husband Peter Baptiste, 59, her son Jeremy Toussaint, 24 and mother Lena Peters, 75, were discovered by a relative in a room at a house, also at Chatham South Trace.
The murders have left the sleepy community and environs in shock, Gopee-Scoon said as she expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
She said: “Chatham being a small village, everyone is affected by this gruesome murder. It’s very sad but my understanding is that it is connected to a murder last week as well. I am not sure, I will leave that for the police to deal with.
“However, the concern is that there is no other resulting discontent arising from this murder. I am trusting there will be some kind of mediation to calm any concerns and quell fears among the villagers in the village.
“Certainly this is a time you need intervention to ensure that some calm is restored to this beautiful and peaceful village.”
Chatham, she said, was a peaceful area and that was quite an unusual and shocking event. Gopee-Scoon said she hoped the murders were solved as she recalled last year’s murders of Fullerton Village couple Krishna Ramdeen, 63, and Radha, 57, which remained unsolved.
Local representative for the area, councillor Arlene Ramroop, echoed Gopee-Scoon’s concerns, saying it was a sad day in the community.
Describing Chatham as a family-oriented village, Ramroop said counselling should be provided to the family and residents. She also hoped for a speedy investigation and justice for the bereaved family.
Equally shocked and lost for words was Point Fortin mayor Clyde Paul, who said: “That is a disaster. Actually, a member of the (deceased) family is a checker here with the borough corporation.”