FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 VOLUME 115, No.28 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50 Prison diary Where lies the Featuring Relocation Diagnostic mystery police force? Nadia Huggins process begins tests concerns Page 4 Page 10 Page 12 Page 13 Page 24 by DAYLE DA SILVA Parliament on July 6 raised by the Leader of the Opposition Dr Godwin Friday, during the DESPITE THE MANY EXPRESSIONS to the July 8 Meeting of the House. contrary, Prime Minister and Minister of Dr. Friday told the House that there were National Security Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has numerous allegations of incidents where the stated that the police exhibited extraordinary police were said to have manhandled the restraint during the protests that were held on protesters who had gathered outside July 6. Parliament. The issue of what transpired outside According to Friday, he was informed of an incident during which a protester was While leader of the Opposition Dr. Godwin Friday pushed by two members of the Rapid (right) gave indication of possible police Response Unit (RRU), aka the ‘Black misconduct during the July 6 street protest in Squad’. Kingstown, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves lauded the police for their restraint. Continued on Page 3. 2. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN V News 3 THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021. 3. Dr. Friday distances party from comments OPPOSITION LEADER, Dr Godwin Friday The assassination of has disassociated the New Democratic President Jovenel Party, and by extension himself, from Moïse (left) and the comments that appeared on social serious injury to his media suggesting that what transpired wife has aroused in Haiti ought to happen here. some unworthy That country’s President, Jovenel comment and Moïse , was shot and killed at his references on social private residence on July 7. His wife media here. was injured in the attack. Caribbean or In a Meeting of the House of elsewhere. Assembly on July 8, Prime Minister “So any attempt to Dr Ralph Gonsalves referred to online try to suggest that comments that, “…have been referred this is an inclination, to me saying that they want to see…. or some position that they want those who did the killing in the NDP may wish to Haiti must come to deal with the advance, it is totally dictator in St Vincent.” false, wrong- headed Dr. Gonsalves said that while he and ought to be was live on radio on July 7, he stopped in this received a text message that what House.” (DD) occurred in Haiti was what happened to people who wanted to hold on to power for too long. According to Gonsalves, there was concern for his safety by members of ‘Police showed restraint,’ PM his family based on those social media postings and what he had been Continued from Front Page. informed through intelligence. how it was done. Police Station, and that he The conclusion on Tuesday “Because he recognized was subsequently is that the police acted with “I simply said nobody intimidates He said that the officers the danger and the transferred to patrol. extraordinary restraint in me, and I’m okay,” he said. were said to have pushed unnecessary use of force Dr. Friday called for the all the circumstances,” he This prompted the Leader of the the protester dangerously that was being exhibited Prime Minister to look into continued. Opposition to disassociate his party close to an open drain, there, and you would think the matter. The prime minister said from any affiliation to individuals or putting him in harm’s way. that that was the end of it,” “Because I don’t know that the restraint was such groups promoting the message. Continuing, Dr. Friday Friday said. how on one hand you can that there was a vehicle Dr. Friday, in his response said he was informed that The Opposition Leader encourage the which was alleged to have condemned the killing in Haiti as an another officer, allegedly a said that he was told that professionalism of the police broken down and which abhorrent act, one that the NDP sees Special Services Unit (SSU) the SSU officer was in fact and here you have an remained blocking the road in any way as a model for guidance for officer, approached the reprimanded by the officer… exercising his for a period of time, before it any actions here or anywhere in the scene and told the RU Commissioner of Police on judgment as a senior officer was moved away. officers, that that was not his return to the Central in a situation and then his That matter was being actions get collared by investigated and therefore the fact that his he was not able to comment mother calls into further on that incident. Dry dock too costly to repair NICE Radio and that (The driver of that vehicle he is from Bequia,” has since been charged) THE OTTLEY HALL MARINA thrust of the Leader of the He said that he had AND SHIPYARD is still 2,500 Opposition expressed received many reports from functional despite there not being tonnes with some a number of different a dry dock. which put vehemence. sources about the actions of The other aspects of the an extreme But Gonsalves said members of the police force. facility, so much so the repair of pressure that he was not going “But I will caution the vessels service, staffed by 28 on the 104 to question the Opposition Leader not to Commissioner of accept the word of a employees, generated EC$800,000 lock down Police about any in 2018. bolts, and policeman who was transfer of any officer. transferred by the This information was disclosed in the “I was hoping that Commissioner from one unit by Senator Julian Francis, weakened we didn’t get into a Minister of Urban Development, state due discussion about what to another.” Airport, Seaport, Energy and the to 25 years was heard that And while Dr. Gonsalves Grenadines Affairs; in response to of transpired on said he told the Commissioner that matters a question from Leader of the corrosion, The ship repair facility at the Tuesday (July 6), Opposition Dr Godwin Friday, in half of the bolts on one side because several of a security nature was in Otlley Hall Marina and Shipyard his domain and he, as prime Parliament on July 6. failed,” he said. is operational. incidents were drawn Francis was asked about the When this happened, the dry to my attention by minister, was not in a Ottley Hall Marina and its dock was ruptured, Francis told observers and also by position to tell him what to said. operations following the collapse the Parliament. the police,” Dr. do, he also reminded the But the facility was still of the Marina’s dry dock in 2019. Regarding repair work, Francis Gonsalves said. Commissioner that persons functioning although it needs In his response, Francis said that there were several “And I would not had the right to protest some clean-up and upgrading. explained that the collapse was options available but none of them speak to any of those peacefully and within the Francis did state, however, that caused by corrosion which would be cheap. reports as framework of the law and the advice is not to touch the weakened the steel structure of “The repair of the dry dock will authoritative other that he did not support any repair of the dry dock at this time. the dry dock. absorb 80 percent of the repair of than to say that they police officer beating a (DD) “When empty, there was an up the cost of the entire shipyard,” he were what I heard. peaceful protester. 4. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 . THE VINCENTIAN V Court Prison diary mystery in officer’s case Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS next Tuesday, July 20 to accommodate out for years, and if need be, he will September 24, the retired Superintendent. ask the Court to summon the 2019 and October RETIRED Superintendent of Prisons When the trial resumed on individual who made that reference. 2, 2019, ‘did agree Brenton Charles is expected to be Wednesday, with Lead Investigator Connell did not say who that with Veron Primus recalled to the witness stand in the case Assistant Superintendent of Police individual was. that a course of of Prison Officer Louis Cupid. Elgin Richards taking the stand, Chief Senior Prosecutor Adolphus conduct shall be Cupid is on trial in connection with Magistrate Rechanne Browne granted Delpleche said he had suggested to the pursued which if the 2019 escape of murder accused an application by Cupid’s lawyer, Investigator that Connell be allowed the agreement was Veron Primus from Her Majesty’s Grant Connell, to recall the retired to make an application for the retired carried out in Prison, Kingstown. Superintendent to shed some light as Prison Superintendent to be recalled accordance with The matter has been adjourned to to what happened to the diary for the to the witness stand to shed some his intention, will prison dormitory where light on the issue, as the Investigator amount to the Cupid was working, could not provide any answers. Commission of the during Primus’ escape Connell, while agreeing to make offence of escaping Retired Protestor slapped between September 29 that application, indicated that it was lawful custody’. Superintendent and October 1, 2019. unfortunate to have to upset Brenton Primus is of Prisons Connell reminded the Charles’ retirement, and have him awaiting trial for Brenton Charles. with traffic charges Court that he was recalled to the witness stand, because the November 2015 granted an application the Investigator has admitted he knew stabbing death of A 38-YEAR-OLD WOMAN of for disclosure of the nothing about the diary which has the 36-year-old Real Estate Agent Georgetown/Mt.