Beach Cocoyer of Petit-Goâve hosting first edition of "Festi Cocoyer"

December 3, 2014 7:20 AM

After a bit of controversy early last year following the turning away of medical personnel from America, Beach Cocoyer is once again shrouded in controversy. In March 2013, residents from two villages in the third communal section of Petit- Goâve, Trouchouchou and Cocoyer, responded after the doctors, who were set to administer free care to the area on the site of the beach, were asked to pay for use of the beach. Reports were that the American delegation was assaulted.

Now this year, the highly turbulent night of August 17 shone another less than desirable light on the Beach when the staging of the first edition of the Festival Notre-Dame of Petit- Goâve, or Festi Cocoyer, ended with heavy gunfire, tear gas and violent beatings.

The initial cause of the unrest has not been identified, but the Departmental Unit of Maintenance of Order (UDMO) agents received word at 1:00 in the morning that there was a disturbance on the beach, and they responded, how some would describe as violently.

It is reported that many frightened patrons, trying desperately to escape the shooting and chaos tried to run away, but were themselves injured as they fell or where accosted by the security agents. Finding an opportunity in the bedlam, thieves took to looting the stalls and shelves of traders at the festival, stealing the profits that had been made during the course of the day.

At final toll, in an addressed provided by the administrator of the Notre Dame Hospital in Petit- Goâve, Wilkes Poisson, the list of injured included 40 to 45 people suffering from everything from gunshot wounds to bone breaks.

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Beach Cocoyer of Petit-Goâve hosting first edition of "Festi Cocoyer"

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