by Dr Neals J Chitan
I looked carefully as the cameras focused on the face of a handsome 46-year-old man, going by “Wello”, a short form of his name Wellington Welsh, dressed in a tailored grey suit, pink shirt and dark sunglasses, lying in a casket at the Alston George Park in Victoria, St Mark.
The community grief is incapacitating. But did we learn?
Reports indicate that on 27 April 2025, outside the Victoria Police Station, as revellers celebrated the Sunset City Festival, violent confrontations between feuding youth gang members erupted, demanding a mediator to quell the ensuing violent street brawl, and a peacemaker and mentor, Wellington “Wello” Welsh, stepped up. Allegations have it that in his effort to put peace among the bottle-throwing crowd, he summoned the help of Inspector Kellon Noel, the officer in charge of the Victoria Police Station and an acquaintance of his to assist him.
As law enforcement joined the citizenry in this dual attempt to undertake crowd control and dispersal, it’s further alleged that Inspector Noel’s weapon was discharged and bullets landed in the head of the peacemaker Wello, knocking him down in his own blood. He sadly passed away 3 days later. And here we are today, Friday, June 13, 2025, experiencing the collective community pain, grief and loss during his funeral. But again, did we learn?
What an unfortunate outcome to what was intended to be a united effort to reclaim peace on the street of Victoria by 2 community builders and protectors who apparently had the same goal but experienced 2 different consequences. However, as the judicial process of this unfortunate occurrence proceeds and justice takes its place, I ask again, did we learn?
So, let’s examine the real reason for the funeral of such a good man lying cold and lifeless in a casket today. My friends, as I dug into the characters of Wello — the victim and Inspector Noel — the alleged perpetrator, I am suggesting that if there wasn’t a feuding gang street brawl on 27 April 2025, two upright citizens would not have faced these bitter consequences.
It is my belief that this unfortunate shooting was not a targeted incident but was triggered by the need to bring control and peace to the violence happening on the streets of Victoria. And so, if my assessment of the root of this incident is correct, I ask, “What are we doing about violence among feuding youth gangs across our nation?” You see, my friends, we can respond by burying our heads in the sand and continue doubting that we do have a youth gang problem in Grenada. Or, if you are like me, who responds and intervenes in high school fights, weapon use/charges, juvenile court appearances, youth detention centre visits and family battles, you may agree that there is an issue to be addressed in our communities across the nation.
Imagine, we seldom can enjoy and participate in our community events without looking over our shoulders and getting ready to run for cover. As an International Crime Reduction and Behaviour Modification Specialist, I have made it a habit to never criticise without doing something to help solve the problem. That’s what I did in 2024 when we were being overcome by gun violence. I proposed my International Flagship Crime Reduction Community Programme “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” (PSAT) in 8 communities across the nation.
I must compliment the Cabinet of Grenada for officially engaging PSAT in 2024 through Cabinet Conclusion #354. After engaging our programme in all 6 parishes, we culminated “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK-2024” with a spectacular national graduation of 205 young and adult graduates who signed a pledge against crime and violence on 1 December 2024.
Although still in waiting to launch “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK-2025 in another 15 communities, we are hoping that the lists of young men ready to be involved in this life-changing programme will get the opportunity to experience the power of “Project STOP ’n’ THINK-2025” thus helping to mitigate against the prevailing gang feuds that created the circumstances leading to Wello’s death.
Finally, as I watch the pain, the grief and trauma of this funeral, I ask again: “Well-O goodness, did we learn?” Condolences and blessings to the family and community of this St Mark’s Mentor and Peacemaker, Mr Wellington Wello Welsh. Again, I commit myself to nation-building and crime reduction across our spice tri-island.
Dr Neals Chitan is an International Social Skill Consultant and Crime Reduction Specialist who holds a PhD in Social and Behavioural Sciences and currently works in Grenada. He is the President/Founder of Motiv-8 For Change International, a Toronto-based Social Skill Agency, and can be reached from North America at 647-692-6330 and locally 473-416-8377 or at [email protected]