by Linda Straker
- Evan Smith unknowingly hit a dog and was physically assaulted by animal’s owner and family
- Police informed Smith that matter needs to be pursued civilly or privately
- Family believed to be investors in a business at one of the island’s marinas
- Some protesters called for immediate justice
Hundreds of Grenadians braved Saturday afternoon’s inclement weather to protest for immediate justice for a Grenadian man who suffered physical injuries following an altercation with a family in the upscale residential neighbourhood of Fort Jeudy, over the accidental killing of a dog.
Evan Smith, who was dropping off construction workers on Thursday, 25 June 2020 unknowingly hit a dog with his vehicle. The animal succumbed to its injuries. Owner of the dog, a Caucasian businessman, approached Smith and informed him of the dog and at the same requested Smith not leave the scene.
An altercation followed in which 4 members of the family who owned the dog physically assaulted Smith in the presence of witnesses. The police were called to the scene, and Smith’s family claimed that despite receiving a medical form from the police at the scene of the crime, they were informed that the matter needs to be pursued civilly or privately, and not criminally.
The news which aired on two main television stations’ Friday evening newscasts, immediately became the topic of discussion and was referred to as white foreigners having rights and privileges not afforded to nationals. The dog owner’s family name has not yet been made public by the police, but they are believed to be investors in a business at one of the island’s marinas.
Saturday’s protest was mobilised using social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp. After the news started spreading about the protest, a statement from the Community Relations Department of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) called for calm.
“Acting Commissioner of Police, Edvin Martin, has ordered an investigation into an alleged altercation that occurred at Fort Jeudy, St George. Progress on the status of the matter will be made public in an upcoming Press Brief scheduled for Monday, 29 June 2020.” The release said, “While the police recognises the people’s right to assemble, the Royal Grenada Police Force is appealing to the general public to be calm as investigation continues in the matter.”
It is normal for the police to provide anyone who has been in an altercation and needs to seek medical attention, a special form to be signed by a doctor which will state the nature of the injury. The nature of the injury will determine the type of charge to be laid on the accused.
While some protesters adorned themselves with placards demanding justice for Mr Smith, the peaceful protest had others calling for immediate justice. “We want justice and we want it now,” they chanted as they walked to the scene of the crime.
In Grenada, Section 12 of the Dogs Registration and Control Act says that an owner or person in charge of a dog must not:
(a) Permit that dog to be –
(i) in any public place unless it is kept under proper control;
(ii) in or on any premises without the consent of the owner or occupier of those premises; or
(b) Permit that dog to enter, bring the dog into or allow the dog to remain in, any restaurant or any place where food is sold for public consumption, other than a guide dog for the blind.
(2) Where a dog defecates on a beach or in a public place the person in charge of the dog must forthwith remove the faeces and dispose of it, enclosed in plastic or paper or other suitable material, in a container intended for waste material.
(3) A person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $1,000.
I am a caucasian woman in a relationship with a Grenadian male of African desent.
He and his family have a total disregard for dogs. They have beaten stray dogs to death and ran them over. They have owned pet dogs in the past purely for vanity and soon grow tired of them, bred them, sold them or neglected them, allowing them to suffer and die.
He and his family also have an appaulingly rasist and hateful attitude toward caucasians. They were only interested in me for my money. He has abused me and cheated on me. He and his familys ignorant and senseless attitudes towards most things have made our relationship impossible to continue.
I 100% agree. I was in one of those relationships too and yes they are appalling cruel to dogs and women!!
The problem is Grenadian black people, they are so backward, ignorant and behind the times it’s unreal. I think it is because they are from an island and cut off from civilisation. It is a shame, they ruin Grenada and their attitudes are behavior is so self-destructive.
Not everybody have those ignorant attitudes….at least you recognise and can hopefully move forward without malice.
The racism, hatred and organised abuse is coming from Grenadians of African desent..
These are not the Indigenous People of Grenada.
If these are their true colours they need to repatriate..
The Indigenous people were there…….Do you know ehat Indigenous means? – It means – the people that are from there and have been for always and always..
Do you actually know what Honkey means?.. – (USA) It’s a white man honking his car horn outside a black brothel because he is too frightened to get out of his car in the black neighbourhood to fetch the black prostitute himself…….
Cape Horn?
Columbus had a bell on his boat no doubt!
If u really did not now.We the original people of “Grenada” did not learn our history from hollywood,media,or european textbooks.the myth that We were taken from Africa and brought here is of the past.and as for the silly comment about “organized abuse” .please.I grew up with dogs cats chickens goats and We even had a bull that I was terrified of..lol..and to add my grampa use to buy ice cream cones for his dogs every Sunday..smh..I loved dogs but I was disgusted at that.lol..but my grandma use to laugh .she loved that so much.smh. People cook food for third dogs everyday..lol..my grandparents even had a monkey that use to wake us up everyday..wow .who are these agents writing these dogmatic comments?
Because this everyday event was between a caucasian and a person of african desent it has revealed the pure hatred that persons of african desent harbour for caucasians.
I have also noticed this true hatred on Fb.
It is a sad world and these types are ruining our future.
Drivers on the road
Obey the highway code
And if you a poor dog today
I don’t wanna hear what you have to say..
When this unremarkable event first happened it set off a ridiculous reaction from certain locals, longing for their very own black lives matter event.
But the cause was not justified.
And the shameful racism and preudice revealed towards our caucasian friends is very sad and worrying.
The comments on here are a reaction of a reaction, thata all.
And yes, the dog mattered, the family matter and so does everyone else.
Live in peace and love please. People and animals.
So true.
Now a run over dog and the owners shameful and aggressive behaviour have become a racial matter focusing on skin color and not about about two individuals in dispute
Shame on you Grenada. If a Grenadian had one the same thing nothing would be said and color not called
jn light of such racial behavior, racial profiling, color calling and demanding action or is it revenge? because of color by a section of your community..
This should be a serious warning for WHITE or should that be “non black”? tourists to AVOID Grenada and the RACIAL PREJUDICE displayed toward white people using any excuse to display racial hatred, especially in light of the recent murders and rape of white tourists on beaches. Avoid Grenada for your own safety
The beautiful Caribbean has more safe and balanced destinations
You can leave a country and go somewhere else, not only in Grenada but I am pretty sure in every other caribbean country too. They had no right to attack the guy that accidently ran overthe dog, besides the dog was not on a leash. So nothing is more dumb than your ignorant comment. It is time that racism ends and all you people try to do is hide it.
Eye witnesses now say Evan Smith’s wife is lying. They also say Evan Smith was speeding and that he did not care that he ran over the dog. His wife was the aggressive one and she has made threats – to ruin the family via the media – wehich she has now carried out.
The Grenadians have been hiding their hatred and racism not the white settlers and visitors. And this unremarkable event has scratched a surface in Grenada that is very, very unpleasant and sad.
Yes you can leave our country and the rest of the Caribbean you racists don’t belong here. we Grenadians are peaceful people but when it comes to things like this we take it very serious. we never show any racial predudice against white people. We are very welcoming and friendly people but if you dont want to be friends with us WELL THEN LEAVE!
Yes. You never “show” it.. until something like this happens..
I agree with you. Grenadians have shown frightening hatred and racism towards tourists and visitors.
But there is no evidence to suggest that Evan Smith was attacked at all. Infact winesses have come forward stating that Evan Smiths wife is lying to seek compensation and that she was the aggressive one and that she made (and has carried out) threats against the family. These threats being to ruin the family via the media and social media.
There are also now witnesses stating that Evan Smith was speeding and driving carelessly. The eye witnesses felt he shoulf have stopped aswell and witnessed him going on to refuse to stop and wait.
I agree too. It is true. The hatred felt towards white people is very sad. There is now another Now Grenada article stating that Evan Smith and especially his wife are lying and that she had actually threatened to destroy the family via the media and social media..
I agree. This is very true. The hatred and racism that has been shown from Grenada is very sad and backward. Evan Smith and his wife have now been exposed as liars, his wife threatened to ruin the family via the media and social media and that is what she and her supporters are trying to do at any cost..
White people have for centuries brutalised black people , raped and murdered and yet you call this. You need to realise that this poor man was treated like that because the white people who decided to beat him up saw this as their right and privilege to do so. he killed their dog (accidentally) surely this tells you where we black people sit in white peoples hierarchy of importance. Wake up from the sleep you are. Yes if so pleases leave Grenada; Grenadians should not express dissent when white people behave disgracefully in our country, we are supposed to shut up and take it.
I agree, live in peace, but you do not assault someone for something that happened accidentally. That is totally wrong and the assault should be dealt with, regardless of skin color. Mr, Business man you are wrong and should feel the full brunt of the nation’s laws.
You are so, so wrong. You all will do anything for money and you all hate dogs and white people. I am so sick of you and this uglyness that Grenada hides..
Wat were his workers doing when this happened and is Grenada so cut off from the outside world they ain’t heard of Floyd George May he rest in peace, this tears at my heart and the full weight of the law must be used on all involved, police to. Are we Grenadians so desperate for white money we overlook white behaviour? Shame on us
The workers are appearing as primary witnesses. They say that Evan Smith and his wife are lying.
The dog owners workers are eye witnesses and they are disputing Evan Smith and wife’s stories.
Man 1: Dangerous driving and speeding.
Animal cruelty
Man 2: Protecting his family and pets.
Man 1 victim of assault by four member of one family.for accidentally knocking over their dog that was not on a lead.
Man 2 Angry due to the knocking over of his dog so he and other members of his family attacked man 1.
So called slaves that have no choice than to lie for their master.
Police. White Supremacy. In their country does not allow them to act according to the law and protect an innocent black citizen because of the colour of their skin.
Witnesses Preventing the course of Justice charges pending.
Bel
You will never learn and you will never change
Because you don’t know right from wrong
And lies will never get to the truth in a problem
Bel.
Stop these lies now. The trouble that Grenadians are causing is reaching far. You have as much care for this poor family being absolutly terrorised by rogue Grenadians as Evan Smith did when he killed their poor dog.