Environment Minister Glenn Blakeney has spoken out about the Southside Cinema double shooting and condemned “whoever is proven guilty for committing such a senseless, brutal and cowardly act”.

The Royal Gazette today reported how Mr. Blakeney’s son Jahmel Blakeney, 28, was arrested along with an 18-year-old Devonshire man after Friday night’s shooting, and is being questioned by Police.

The Minister was travelling overseas yesterday and could not be reached by this newspaper’s press time, but he contacted us by e-mail late last night to say the perpetrators “should face the full consequence of the law, once justice is done and seen to be done”.

He continued: “Nonetheless, no matter who was arrested or who may be suspected, they are entitled to their day in court without there being a rush to judgment.

“However, of far greater importance and concern to me is the condition of the victims and my sincere hope that their families find the strength to be strong in supporting each other under such traumatic circumstances.

“No family deserves to be subjected to this sort of evil and I pray the victims experience a full and speedy recovery.

“I am saddened and devastated that these senseless acts of violence continue to plague our beloved Island and I again appeal to those involved in these vengeful life threatening acts to cease warring among themselves.

“There are no winners only losers that result from this reprehensible anti-social behaviour. Our young black men, our densely populated communities and indeed the entire country is better than this.

“So I beg of anyone that has any helpful information to cooperate with the police in solving this crime and bring the culprits whoever they might be to justice. Again, I express my heartfelt sympathy to the victims and their families.”

Shaki Minors, 26, and girlfriend Renee Kuchler, 24, were shot as they tried to get into a car around 11.20 p.m. on Friday.

Both were taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital with what has been described as non-life threatening injuries. CedarBridge Academy teacher Ms Kuchler remains in intensive care in a stable condition.

Devonshire Cougars footballer Mr. Minors has been moved to a general ward and was also said to be "stable" this morning.

For more on the shootings, see tomorrow’s edition of The Royal Gazette.