HC Deb 21 May 1947 vol 437 cc257-8W
61. Colonel Ponsonby

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any information from Trinidad about the death of Mr. Deryk Ashmead Bartlett, driller at the Premier (Trinidad) Oilfields, Limited, who was shot by masked men on 25th April, what steps are being taken to apprehend the murderers and whether this is an isolated case or connected with other symptom: of unrest in Trinidad.

Mr. Creech Jones

Mr. Bartlett was working late at night at a well in the San Francique oilfield. While temporarily separated from the rest of the party with whom he was working, he encountered two masked men who, on being questioned, shot him and then escaped. I am sorry to say that although an emergency operation was performed and Mr. Bartlett rallied for a time, he died the same day. Inquiries were immediately set on foot by the police under the direction of the local C.I.D. and a reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mr. Bartlett's assailants, but I have no information yet of any arrest being made. The motives for the murder are at present unknown, but there is no particular evidence to connect it with other symptoms of unrest in Trinidad.

Forward to