A Vincentian dancehall artist has released a video apology to Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday after a song containing explicit references to gang and gun violence circulated widely on social media in the aftermath of a deadly shooting.
The Green Hill community in central Kingstown was struck by violence on the night of Friday, September 25, when gunshots erupted shortly before 10:30 p.m. Police responding to the scene found four people dead: two on the public road, one inside a parked vehicle, and one on adjacent property. Four others were wounded in the incident.
Following the shooting, an audio track by the artist began spreading across social media platforms. The recording featured aggressive lyrics with street slang, violent threats, references to gunmen, and calls for the release of an individual identified as Smith Don, with the Prime Minister's name mentioned in the song.
In his video statement, the artist said he was "the dance artist and songwriter that sang the song that is going viral" and offered an apology. "I want to publicly apologize to Dr. Godwin Friday. I meant no harm or any form of disrespect when I said the name of the song," the artist stated. He also apologised to families grieving their loved ones, explaining that he had based the song "off of social media posts and news reports."
The violence extended beyond Green Hill. Assistant Commissioner of Police Brenton Smith reported that a separate shooting occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 26, in the Fair Hall area, injuring a young man. Police cautioned the public against linking the two incidents, stating that investigators are relying on physical evidence to determine any connection.
As of the latest update, no arrests have been made in connection with the Green Hill shooting. Police have appealed for anyone with CCTV footage, video recordings, photographs, or information to contact police hotlines.
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