Senior Multimedia Reporter
Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has expressed shock and grief over the killing of businessman Steve Ghany Jr, revealing that he had spent time with him just days before his death.
Ghany Jr, 37, of Alexander Road, Vistabella, San Fernando, was gunned down yesterday morning around 10 am, after a confrontation with a female relative at his home.
The murder weapon, a licensed firearm, was handed over to the police.
Speaking with reporters at the official handover ceremony at the Penal Fire Headquarters yesterday, Alexander said he last saw Ghany over the weekend at a rifle range, where they engaged in recreational shooting.
“Yeah, he was a friend of mine. Very sad… I never expected this outcome that he would be dead,” the minister said.
“We went on the range, took a little sweat… so yeah, we met him.”
Ghany Jr, who was actively involved in his family’s construction business and well known among jet ski enthusiasts, was facing domestic problems and was labelled as an “abuser” by friends and relatives of the woman.
Investigators said the woman reported that she acted in self-defence, after Ghany allegedly threatened to kill her and her two daughters, aged four and nine.
Investigators were told that multiple gunshots rang out during the confrontation. Ghany sustained several gunshot wounds to the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman later handed over a licensed firearm to police and remains in custody as investigations continue.
Her attorney, Prakash Ramadhar, declined to comment when contacted. Senior police officers confirmed that she is assisting investigators.
When asked if he knew about Ghany’s problems, Alexander said the full circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear and must be determined by investigators.
“Circumstances still look sketchy… investigators will determine exactly what took place there,” he said, while extending condolences to the victim’s relatives.
“I hope the good Lord bless his soul, and that the family will be able to live again after this incident.”
The minister noted that Ghany had never shared any personal struggles with him.
“Listen, we try to keep family matters personal, you know what I mean? And I respect him for that. Had I known, probably I would have tried to tell him otherwise, but I did not,” he added.
A close friend of the relative told Guardian Media that over the past year, she had distanced herself from several friends and spoke of ongoing threats.
That account is now part of the wider probe into the fatal shooting.
The killing has also drawn renewed attention to domestic violence, which Alexander described as a growing concern.
He urged citizens to address conflicts before they escalate.
“There are things sometimes—misunderstandings between people—and when you realise that, you fix it. It doesn’t have to reach to this.”
He stressed that strengthening family relationships is critical to tackling crime, pointing to the role of parents in shaping behaviour.
“The parent is the foundation from where everything comes from. You must go back there to start,” Alexander said, announcing that a series of parenting workshops will be launched this week as part of a broader crime prevention strategy.
While murders often dominate public discourse, Alexander said not all killings are linked to organised criminal networks.
“If you break down the murders… this will go down as a murder, but what is it really? Domestic-related?” he asked, appealing to the public to “hold faith” as the Government continues its anti-crime efforts.
Addressing concerns from the business community about rising crime, he acknowledged that some operators have felt forced to scale back or close their operations, but emphasised that meaningful change will take time.
“You can’t get up one morning, and crime is gone. Everything is a process, and that process takes time,” he said, urging citizens to share information with law enforcement.
Ghany’s killing is the second tragedy to affect the family In December 2024, Ghany’s stepmother, Monica Ghany, was shot and killed while driving along Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando, after visiting her ailing husband, Steve Ghany Snr. She was his second wife. Their son, Matthew, who is Ghany Junior’s step-brother, was also injured in that attack but survived.
As police continue their investigations into yesterday’s incident, Alexander said the focus must remain on preventing further tragedies.
“There must be improvement, and the public must benefit from that improvement,” he said.
