Bajan bus conductor attacked because he didn’t like foreigners
Just before news time, we spoke via phone to Rene Montero, Gabb’s cousin, who was with him at the time of the incident on Friday. Montero says that a group of Belizeans was about to go to his house for dinner, and half of the group got into a zedar, which is the Bajan version of Belize’s dollar-taxi vans. They were intending to go shopping for dinner items, but apparently the conductor of the zedar, Jabarie King, didn’t like the sound of Creole and that is what caused the stabbing that almost killed Gabb.
Via Phone: Rene Montero, Witnessed Stabbing of Andre Gabb
“They got into a zedar and they were speaking Creole like normal people and that seems to have aggravated the conductor and they had to stop to the supermarket to buy some chicken and some vegetables so that we can cook up some food. And when they were exiting the zedar, the taxi, the conductor told one of the other Belizeans that he would love to kill them because he doesn’t know what they are doing in his country. And whenever we foreigners come in Barbados we do as we feel and he was saying some remarks to that extent. It wasn’t with Andre at first because Andre was actually quite a distance away. But then the conductor found two bottles on the side of the road and he threw it at another Belizeans. One of the bottles felt by Andre’s foot and he reacted because Andre is a military…he has a lot of military training so he reacted and approached the conductor and there they exchanged some blows. It happened so fast, the guy pulled out a knife and that’s when he inflicted one wound into his chest.”
Rene Montero
Jose Sanchez
“I understand that this guy was arrested and charged.”
Via Phone: Rene Montero
“This guy was caught on the scene because the other Belizeans followed him, cornered him in a store and at the same time two police officers apprehended him and so we caught the guy. I’ve been in contact with the Barbadian police and they told us that they would charge him with serious bodily harm.”
There is no charge of attempted murder in Barbados, hence the reason why the accused conductor was charged with serious bodily harm.
Ignorance lives all over the world. Let’s watch if the Barbadian justice system can work better than ours to convict and punish a violent criminal.
If the taxi driver does not like foreigners, why the heck is he driving a taxi? I have been to Barbados and they live off tourism. How stupid can this cab driver be????
I’m disgusted at this.
Lets see what their justice system is…hopefully our foreign ministry has already contacted Bajan Government.
There is more to this story than meets the eye. Sounds like hogwash. I’ve been to Barbados several times and never came across crass, discrimating people who all seem to work in tourism one way or another.
There does seem to be more to this than meets the eye, some questions that our reporters should answer:
1. Is this Rene Montero the same as our beloved Minister?
2. The story says they were going to Montero’s house in Barbados — I wonder why a Minister has a home in a foreign country? ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ALL BANK ACCOUNTS, PROPERTY, AND BUSINESSES THEY HAVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
Coincidences are adding up, this story deserves more investigation.
Seletar…you need to know your ministers. Minister Montero is an older person…maybe related. I advise you to stop in at press office or even visit http://www.belize.gov.bz and see what the Minister looks like.
Dem seh ih betta to remain quiet and be thought a fool that open your mouth and confirm.
@ Seletar, C’omon man, you aren’t that slow are ya? Did you not see the picture of the Rene Montero mentioned in the news clip?
There always seem to be people like you that have their brain in the gutter.
I wish the Soldier a speedy and complete recovery.
I’m not buying this story. Ya’ll can believe it if you want but I will raise my fist only after a thorough investigation has been completed. So far only his friends/other Belizeans are speaking up. Sounds kinda suspect to me. IMO
I’m a Belizean living in Barbados and I can tell you that Barbados hides its crime because they depend alot on Tourism. I’ve personally been robbed infront of my kids and when I called police they came 5 hours later because I was a foreigner. I’ve know of friends being robbed and it doesn’t even make the news. The only reason this made the news is because Gabb is with the RSS. Most students living here depend on the Zadar to take them from point a to point b and those same conductors are always drinking on the job especially on Fridays and Saturday. As for Rene Montero its funny that you Selecta didn’t even see the pic. Try and learn who your ministers are before you go accusing falsely. Your whole statement is funny. As for the safety for students in Barbados no one worries but I can name alot of Students being robbed here. Belizeans included but when we come out and voice it no one listens. I would love for Channel 5 or any news station to interview Belizean students and you’ll see that some have been affected. Like I said they promote this place to be safe but in reality the economy here is getting worst and worst and crime is increasing especially in the areas where students live. As for discrimination oh I can go on and on beginning with the fact that even though they depend on tourism they don’t like people in their country. I’ve been told by immigration themselves to go back home and I can name other Belizeans who’ve been told the same. It’s a different experience when you come to live here for some time and live like locals than when you come as a tourist and stay here for a little while. Don’t judge until you know. They should do an interview with some Belizeans here and disclose everything that Barbados is hiding for the sake of tourism! You would be surprised.
First off, my heartfelt prayers go out to Mr. Gabb and his family for a complete and a speedy recovery. Please allow me to address the two insensitive persons that choose to just type nonsense just because they have access to the internet. Mr. (sometime) visitor to Barbados we that live and work here in Barbados much like Mr. Gabb experience downright blatant discrimination and offensive attitudes to non-Bajan’s it has happened to a lot of other caribbean nationals also, I must admit I would not label all Bajans in this light but it is just one too many for my liking. I am a very avid traveler, Caribbean and a host of other countries and I have never been so rudely acknowledged anywhere else in the world other than Barbados. The young man you are trying to label is doing something productive with his life he is getting an education…!!!!
Bajans love tourist money but hate the tourist… They love for you to visit BUT do NOT live here or stay more than a few weeks. They hate everyone that is prettier/handsomer than they are… Ask any student that has lived in Barbados. Great place to live just don’t mix with the locals. Stay with your Trini Friends, or any other Caribbean friend. BUT NOT A BARBADIAN!!!!
I have had the opportunity to meet and speak with people from almost every Caribbean country in the Caribbean communities in NYC. They all speak kriol, the difference is the cadence. Trini is sing song rhythm. Guyanese is slower, Jamaican is distinctive int its fast staucatto. But in general if one speaks kriol one can understand the regional dialects. Ive been to Barbados and Bajan kriol is closer to Belize kriol than most of the other Caribbean kriol. I Don’t understand hwy this bus driver would be so annoyed to the point where he would do what he did.
Speedy recovery to the Sgt Major.
@Louisville, apparently I am that slow! I didn’t even pay attention to the photo, only the name in the story. Sorry, but it would have been a juicier story if it were a member of GOB there!.