The shooting of Oualichi Movement for Change (OMC) leader Olivier Arrindell and family that killed his wife Sabine Wednesday evening sent shock waves throughout the Caribbean and Dutch kingdom. According to caretaker Prime Minister Luc Mercelina in a national address on Thursday afternoon, they were ambushed by gunmen in the Cupecoy area with their young daughter inside the car.
OMC candidate number 18 Laurence Lake was also shot in the shoulder and underwent surgery, but his condition is completely stable, the prime minster reported. Arrindell’s injuries were thankfully not life-threatening and they released him from St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC).
According to an earlier statement by Justice Minster Lyndon Lewis, “It appears these heinous acts may have been politically motivated,” but the prime minister later assured there is as yet no indication of such. Right after the fatal incident a wounded Arrindell alleged they had tried to kill him for that very reason and blamed three opposing party leaders as being responsible.
The case has already been compared to the assassinations of Pim Fortuyn in the Netherlands and PS-leader Helmin Wiels in Curaçao. In the former case the culprit turned out to be a disturbed environmental and animal activist, while in the latter case then-MFK-minister George Jamaloodin was sentenced for orchestrating the paid murder by members of the “No Limit Soldiers” (NLS) gang, although a clear motive has never been established and the two respective parties were in a coalition government together.
Speculation is now rife among the local population, which one can perhaps understand under the circumstances. However, it seems best to let the investigation by competent authorities run its course before jumping to conclusions.
Some have called for an election campaign pause and President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams said it can’t be “business as unusual” in that regard, but postponing the snap vote is so far not being mentioned as an option and would in any case be difficult in terms of the law and democratic principles.
While it’s hard to imagine what the surviving victims must be going through, others spreading unproven accusations and conspiracy theories does not help them. May the truth ultimately prevail and swift justice be served.
