PM Mottley on ‘senseless’ slayings

“Senseless loss” was how the Prime Minister has described the brutal slaying of Nation photojournalist Christoff Griffith and Glenroy James at Bishop’s Court on Monday morning.

Mottley said she knows the Griffith family, particularly Sargeant Griffith, Christoff’s father, having served communities in her St Michael North East constituency.

She said it was clear that the 24-year-old photographer “was a decent, kind and quietly confident young man who exemplified all the qualities that his father devoted so many of his years as a policeman to try to instill in young men and women across St Michael”.

She added: “His was a life that ended well before he had the opportunity to fulfil the potential that he had only just started to display as a news photographer — that in itself being a tragedy, made worse by the apparent circumstances.

“To the members of the journalism fraternity, and to everyone who has been touched by the quiet confidence, respect and compassion that Christoff exemplified, but especially to Christopher, Sonia, Shaquan, Chad and the rest of the family, I extend my deepest personal condolence, as well as that of the Government of Barbados.”

The Prime Minister also expressed condolences to the family of Glenroy James, the Guyanese contract worker whose death brought Griffith to the scene.

“I have no doubt at this time his family and loved ones must be overwhelmed with grief, the Prime Minister said. “My thoughts are prayers are with them.”