Samuda robbed
Published:Thursday | July 1, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Gunmen rampaged the St Catherine home of Commerce Minister Karl Samuda yesterday, holding a family member and workers hostage before stealing a firearm and cash.
A clearly shaken Samuda told The Gleaner that he felt violated, even as investigators combed his home and adjoining farm, located in the placid community of Knollis, along the Riversdale main road, for clues.
The minister said the incident took place about noon.
"There were two of them - one with a long gun and the other with a short gun," said Samuda, relating what he had been told.
Hellish attack
He said the men entered a cottage and the main house on his property and held up his sister-in-law and helper and took them to a main bedroom.
Samuda told The Gleaner that his helper was in the cottage ironing while his sister-in-law was in the house.
He said the men then ordered a man who was working on the property to use a welding torch to cut open a safe, from which they stole a firearm and five boxes of ammunition.
"They were cussing me all of the time, for the two hours that they held my sister-in-law and my helper as hostage in my bedroom,"he told The Gleaner. "They had them at gunpoint for nearly two hours."
"I don't know what else they have gone with," Samuda said. "It is unbelievable ... . Six persons were on the farm, but they held up those who were close to the house," Samuda said.
A nightmare
The veteran politician said he has lived in Knollis for more than 20 years and has never had such a nightmarish experience.
"My children grew up here. We have had incidents, but nothing like this," Samuda added. "People come out at any time, morning, noon or night, and I have never experienced anything like this. Never."
According to Samuda, the attack has sparked in him a determination to play an even greater role in waging war against crime.
"This has strengthened my resolve and commitment to fight, with every ounce of energy I possess, the scourge of criminality, failing which our country has no future," he declared. "Everyone must be determined in pursuit of this objective."
Samuda said he was not in a position to say whether earlier comments he had made, distancing himself from criminals in his constituency of North Central St Andrew, had triggered the assault.
He expressed confidence in the police to crack the case.