NEWS784, ST. VINCENT – Police on the Caribbean island of St Vincent have made an arrest in the assault and attempted assassination of the country’s Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves.
On Thursday during an anti-government protest, Gonsalves was struck with a stone just above his temple by an opposition protester, as he made his way back to parliament.
He was taken to the island’s main hospital and then flown to Barbados for an MRI or head scan later on Thursday night.
As the parliament continued debate, Government Senator Julian Francis said a woman was arrested on Thursday night … SOURCE.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was hospitalized after a demonstrator threw a rock at his head during an anti-vaccine protest led by nurses and other workers in the eastern Caribbean island, officials said late Thursday.
Gonsalves was bleeding profusely but is expected to recover, according to a statement from his office.
However, the prime minister will be flown to Barbados for further medical treatment including an MRI scan, Finance Minister Camilo Gonsalves told Parliament on Thursday, according to local media.
Authorities said Gonsalves was injured when he stepped out of his car and tried to walk into Parliament.
A crowd of some 200 people had blocked the entrance as they set roadblocks on fire.
“Such an act is to be unequivocally condemned,” his office said.
The attack was criticized by others including Ronald Sanders, ambassador to the Organization of American States.
“This development in Caribbean politics is reprehensible,” he said.
Local media quoted Senator Julian Francis saying that an unidentified woman had been arrested. No further details were immediately available.
The protest was organized by unions representing nurses, police and other workers who claimed that the government planned to mandate vaccines for certain employees.
Gonsalves clarified that he would not make vaccines mandatory.
