"No one wins. No one could ever win. We all end up being the losers. I therefore beg the youths to use this tragic incident so as to make a commitment to stay away from violence".
This was the plea made from behind bars by Nicholas "Little Nikki" Gilbert who is held on remand at the Richmond Hill prison in connection with the murder of his younger brother Anthony "Snakes" Gilbert on March 1 at Darbeau, St. George's.
"Snakes" was laid to rest last week Thursday at the Wilberforce Cemetery following a service at the Garden of Remembrance Funeral Chapel.
In his letter, "Little Nikki" begs the youths of the nation and the entire population to take control of their anger and refrain for getting involved in violence.
The letter was read during a candlelight vigil staged last week in the community by a friend of the accused man, Umar Alao who is a student at St George's University.
"Little Nikki" asked the residents of Darbeau for forgiveness in the letter that was obtained by this newspaper:
Dear Friends and Family of my Community,
With great sorrow and a deep sense of regret, I hereby apologise to you all for this painful tragedy that resulted from the incident last Saturday. At times I cannot believe that this happened. But I know it did. Regrettably, I can't reverse the time else I would have done so. Please everyone, I beg of you, forgive me!
I do not want you to judge me because of this unfortunate situation; for this is simply just not like me. However, I ask for your prayers. I also need you to help me pray so that my brother's soul may rest in peace and that the most high may forgive me.
Miss James, Fabian, Bonsey, Sharon, Sarana, Michelle, Miss Denise, Tyron, Crysto - everyone who is close to me - I beg for your forgiveness. I am keeping the faith and trying to hold strong. Please do the same.
The friends of my brother, I address you with great pain and sorrow in my heart as I beg for your forgiveness. In Mantana, you have lost a friend and brethren. May the most high help you to find it in your heart to forgive me.
Finally, as I face up to what happened last Saturday, I want to appeal to all you youths that you promise each other as well as the wider society that you would learn to control your tempers. Pray hard and make every effort to ensure that what happened in my case would not happen to any of you.
When anger is not properly managed and tempers are out of control, great pain and suffering, heavy sorrow and even death can be the result. No one wins. No one could ever win. We all end up being the losers. I therefore beg the youths to use this tragic incident so as to make a commitment to stay away from violence.
May God help us all at this trying time. Please pray for my Mom that she stays strong."
