The Caribbean Mourns for Nice
Jamaica’s Prime Minster Andrew Holness and his St. Lucian counterpart, Allen Chastanet, have condemned the terrorist attacks in France that left at least 88 people dead in France.
In a letter to his French counterpart, Manuel Valls Holness said “this atrocious act, perpetrated against the French Republic during the festivities on the occasion of the 227th Anniversary of your National Day in the city of Nice, has left Jamaica and the international community in dismay and anguish.
“The attack seeks to undermine the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity championed by the French in 1789 which have been accepted by the civilized and peace-loving world as core tenets of democracy. “Today, it is clear that there are elements in the world that do not embrace these ideals; elements which are dedicated to inciting fear and hatred among others,” Holness wrote as he extended Jamaica’s condolence to the people of France and their bereaved families.
Chastanet said “once again the world has to bare the pain of another dreadful attempt to terrorize innocent people”.
He said the attack in Nice “was an attack against people on a day that celebrates Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. People across the world need to draw strength from the French people’s commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
“We are reminded in this time of tragedy that the bonds of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity are not only values that the French share but they are values that most of the world share. We implore the entire world to embrace those values to make certain that these ideals endure far beyond any act of terrorism or hateful crimes.”
Chastanet said he St. Lucia was offering its “deepest condolences to the friends and family of those who were killed and our hopes for a speedy recovery to those who were injured.
