Leroy Rodney, 25; Nyron Morgan, 24; Junior Garfield Morgan, 18; and Clifton Rodney, 17, return to court on July 27 for a preliminary inquiry. They were charged with two counts of rape, one count of grievous bodily harm and one count of wounding and face a maximum of life imprisonment.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Leader of the Opposition Arhnim Eustace expressed sadness over the incident and urged the family to make themselves available to give evidence in the trial.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves. Photo: Kenton Chance

Gonsalves last week described the alleged incidents as “dastardly criminal acts” even as he identified a need for some damage control. Gonsalves told reporters last week that government had offered to have the alleged victims return to St Vincent for every stage of the trial, at the expense of the state.

“The victims acknowledge that our country is peaceful and law-abiding but that there are a few persons who are seeking to disturb our peace and tranquillity and who are criminally minded,” Dr Gonsalves who is also Minister of National Security said.

He added: “And we have to stamp out those elements and get them on the straight and narrow and where they are not coming on the straight and narrow they must be in the prison, away from law abiding people.

“This paramount act of criminality offended the sensibility of all right thinking people,” he said.

Government has offered for all six members of the family to return for holiday at the expense of government. “They have agreed to cooperate fully with the police and the government. They too are determined that the culprits must not go free,” Dr Gonsalves said.