Tomorrow January 12, 2018, will mark three years since the tragic accident at Rock Gutter on the North Windward side of main land St. Vincent that claimed the lives of seven students.
The children died on January 12th, 2015 after the passenger van in which they were travelling went over an embankment and into the sea at Rock Gutter, an uninhabited area between the communities of Fancy and Owia.
The bodies of five of the students, Anique Alexander, Racquel Ashton, Jamal and Jamalie Edwards, and Glenroy Michael were recovered and buried at the Fancy Cemetery.
However, the bodies of the other two students, Simonique Ballantyne and Chanstacia Stay, were never recovered.
Speaking this morning on the Shakeup programme aired here on WEFM, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves described the incident as a sad one.
Dr. Gonsalves said he is sure that the North Union Secondary, Georgetown Secondary, and St. Vincent Grammar School, which the students attended, would remember “the unfortunate passing of these beautiful, talented young people of immense promise”.
Prime Minister Gonsalves extends solitary with the parents and immediate family and friends of the deceased, and to the community of Fancy.
Dr. Gonsalves said he was informed that no special commemoration will be held tomorrow; however, he noted that the memory of the tragedy will weigh heavily on the minds of the parents, family, friends, teachers, and community of Fancy.
He said a memorial has been established at Rock Gutter and efforts must be made to ensure that it remains in good order and we have to remember those children.
