Kisean Joseph
The United Progressive Party (UPP) Women’s Forum is calling on Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney to provide an explanation and an apology over a recent incident involving a senior police officer.
The call follows the wide circulation of a video apparently showing a plain clothes police officer at the Rise fete forcefully pushing a female patron to the ground. Reportedly the unidentified woman was intoxicated.
The Women’s Forum acknowledged that Carnival in Antigua and Barbuda is a time of revelry that often leads to excess.
However, it said that the police must be familiar with behaviour stemming from the abuse of alcohol and other substances at these events.
The body said the public expects that the enforcers of law and order have been trained to handle such instances and appropriately deal with persons affected by behaviour-altering substances.
“It cannot be acceptable that such measures would include the brutal mishandling that was witnessed by many and subsequently viewed by thousands,” a statement said.
“The woman, who was not armed with any weapon, was viciously shoved to the ground, with her head landing dangerously close to what appears to be a concrete curb.
“This is not the type of service and protection the festival needs, and it certainly does nothing to enhance the security of women in public or private spaces.”
The Women’s Forum said that women are already feeling particularly vulnerable, taking into consideration the many unsolved break-ins, rapes, and robberies.
Therefore, it noted that the action taken against the woman in question only serves to reinforce the concern that the protection of the law is not being sufficiently extended to women.
The organisation is calling on Commissioner Rodney to initiate a full investigation into the incident, and to share the findings and outcomes with the public.
Rodney has already indicated that a probe is underway.
