Dominica netball team manager speaks out after armed robbery in St. Lucia

18 April 2017

Dominica netball team manager speaks out after armed robbery in St. Lucia

The Manager of the Dominica under 16 national netball team, Fiona Vidal, believes that enough was not done by law enforcement officers following her holdup by an armed man in Castries on Friday evening.

“I find enough wasn’t done – I mean they should have patrolled the place  for example. The only thing they did when that happened was a drive around – just driving around, not even walk around to see if they threw the bag in a gutter,” Vidal said.

She explained that she and members of  the Dominica netball contingent arrived here on Friday afternoon at around 5:25 pm.

Vidal said the group was transported to a guest house in two vehicles.

She was with the second group.

The team manager explained that when they got to the guest house, the girls  complained of being hungry.

Vidal recalled telling the girls to put away their luggage as they would  go to the nearby KFC outlet in Castries to get something to eat.

Vidal said although the KFC outlet was within walking distance of the guest house where they had been taken, the bus driver offered to take them there.

“I am the manager, I was the one with the cash because we just came in, there was no way I could put the cash in the guest house or anything – we had just landed,” she stated.

Vidal said after placing the orders, she opened an envelope and paid $300 at the cashier.

She said she was not aware that anyone was watching her.

“There was no way I took out the whole cash and put on the counter – that’s not true,” she told reporters here, adding that it was not the first time she has travelled with a bulk of money.

She said she and those who had accompanied her went upstairs to eat, spending some time eating, drinking, talking and laughing.

Vidal said when they were finished, they decided to walk back to their guest house as the other coaches knew the place.

She said while walking, it was noticed that a netballer was lagging behind, whereupon a coach told here to come up front.

“About two minutes after speaking to the child I just felt someone tugging at my bag, so I held on to it,” the team manager recalled.

“When I turned around I just saw a tough, dark Rastaman with a gun pointing at me,” Vidal said.

She said the man kept telling her in kweyol to let go of the bag and give it it him.

Vidal said she held on to the bag, but realising that the man was “so desperate”, she let go of it.

She revealed that the bag contained over $14,000, including her personal cash and other valuables, including a credit card, her travel documents and her mobile telephone.

The man then fled.

The Dominica team manager said an alarm  was raised, whereupon a police officer in a vehicle came to their assistance and took them to to the CID Office where interviews were conducted.

“So far, just interviews, interviews, interviews, report and no lead,” Vidal observed.

“They did not even say “Take a walk in the area  where it happened’ honesty, I was waiting for them on Saturday to come and say :’Miss Vidal let’s take a walk to see what happened’, nobody – up to now,” she complained.

She said the only thing that was done was to drive around.

“I have nothing!” Vidal exclaimed.

She said the girls who were with her were traumatised.

However she said the girls decided afterwards that they are strong players.

“They said ‘Miss, we came here for a purpose – we came to play and we will play,” Vidal said, adding that her team defeated Saint Lucia in the first game.

Games continue Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening, she said.

[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_PLUS]