Shaken up

The tragic death of Anthony Unga Nurse is a terrible blow for his family, and has rocked the entire Pine, St Michael community.

This is how Member of Parliament for St Michael South East Santia Bradshaw has described the death of the young man with whom she worked closely on the Pinelands football team.

Santia Bradshaw

The 27-year-old father of a three-month-old girl was fatally stabbed last Monday near his Stratford Hill, The Pine, St Michael home, by another resident.

“It is families in the community that have been affected and it is never an easy blow for the family of the victim, but also when something like that happens in the community, it disrupts the entire community. So it is a difficult one for all the families involved,” she said.

On Sunday night, residents held a candlelight vigil for the young man they described as a gem of the community.

Bradshaw who is not on the island, said she was also shaken up by the loss since she has known the family for many years, a relationship which started when her father, Delisle Bradshaw, was Member of Parliament for the constituency.

“It is hard not to be there but I know that my family is supporting them and the wider St Michael South East community is also offering sympathy and providing support to the family at this time. It is hard. I am really feeling it you know, because of how close he was to me,” Bradshaw said.

The Member of Parliament mentioned that while there have been negative incidents in the community in the past, she has been overseeing a number of community activities designed to assist in settling differences and encouraging good community spirit.

“When anything like this happens, it does shape the very fabric of what you have been trying to settle. But the people in St Michael South East will rise above this. I know there is a lot of love and support for the victim’s family at this time.”

During the vigil, the large crowd walked through the community with candles and singing hymns and choruses. Prayers were also offered on behalf of the grieving family and for peace in the community.

The two-hour vigil ended at the well where Nurse collapsed after he was stabbed.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb