CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

Prime Minister Stephenson King has expressed concern that continued unrest in Guyana, caused by the recent murders of innocent people, may result in the mass migration of Guyanese to St Lucia and other neighbouring Caribbean states.

King's expression of concern came Tuesday amid reports of another murder in Guyana, which could trigger a new wave of killings in the country. There was news on Tuesday that the sister of Guyana's most wanted man, Rondell Rawlins, was shot and killed.

Instability

Rawlins has been identified by police as the leader of a gang that shot and killed 23 people, including five children and three police officers, in two incidents at the East Coast Demerara village of Lusignan and the small mining town of Bartica a few weeks ago.

The prime minister said that it was his hope that peace will prevail in Guyana, as continued strife and criminal activity could spell trouble and instability for other territories in the region.

He said that it is his hope that the Guyana government brings the situation under control, as failure to do that could result in problems for neighbouring territories, including mass migration.

"We would hate that these violent attacks on innocent people by warring gangs would get out of hand, as it could trigger migration, whether to neighbouring territories or to islands of the Eastern Caribbean. There is also the concern the country's social environment if racial tension escalates," King said.

However, Guyana's Honorary Council to St Lucia, Lokish Singh, says his fears are unfounded, noting that while some of his compatriots may seek to migrate, this was hardly expected to occur in large numbers.