Above: St Lucia

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The island of St Lucia is in shock this week after the suspected murder of a prominent hotelier, Oliver “Ollie” Gobat, whose family owns the Cap Maison resort.

After authorities found a charred body on the seat of a burned Range Rover over the weekend, Gobat’s parents identified him as the victim on Wednesday.

In a statement, Gobat’s family said it was “devastated by the sudden and tragic death of their son and brother Oliver on Friday April 25 in St Lucia, the island where he was born and which he loved.”

Gobat had reportedly been shot twice before his body was burned.

In a statement on Facebook, Gobat’s brother, Rufus, said he was thankful for the outpouring of support following his brother’s death.

“They truly do help as we realize how loved and respected my little brother Ollie is,” he said this week.

St Lucia’s government has refrained from specifically identifying Gobat as the victim.

“The Government of Saint Lucia is deeply saddened by the tragic news of an incident which took place on the weekend where a body, widely believed to be that of a prominent Saint Lucian resident associated with the tourism sector, was found burnt in a vehicle in the north of the island,” Tourism Minister Lorne Theophilus said.

The government said it was still unable to say precisely “how he met his death.”

“Currently the police investigation points to a certain individual and should it be determined that he was the victim, we wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” the Minister said.