BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) Cyndie Demming has accused the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, Erasmus Williams, of punching her in the mouth.
Reports reaching SKNVibes indicate that yesterday morning (May 3) during the Labour Day March an altercation took place between Demming and Williams in the vicinity of Springfield Cemetery.
When contacted this morning, Demming told this media house that while she was on the march Williams wanted to take a picture of her and she objected, which led to physical reactions.
“I went to the Labour Day March yesterday. I was in the middle of the march, not disturbing anyone. Then Mr. Erasmus Williams came walking up to me flashing his camera and I said to him, ‘Erasmus, do not take my picture.’ I called his name, so he knows I was talking to him, but he still continued. So, I put up my right hand in front of the camera lens, and this should give you an indication of the proximity he was in my personal space. I think I touched the camera and then he punched me three times and pushed me, but I didn’t fall. I was able to break the fall and then people started pulling me all over. And, army men were handling me, pushing me all about the place.”
Demming claimed that it was an infringement of her rights and the incident occurred in the presence of all the leaders of the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party.
“It is an infringement of my human rights. This is the kind of abuse and discrimination that is spoken against in the Beijing Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women. The man is six feet something and he is towering over me. And this happened in front of all the Labour leaders: Denzil Douglas, Sam Condor, Marcella Liburd, Timothy Harris… all of them were there. It happened during a march for workers to celebrate their rights. It’s a worker’s march; it’s for me and you. Is it because I am an executive member of the People’s Action Movement so they think they could take out their ‘text’ on me?”
She made reference to Prime Minister Douglas’ recent announcement of civil servants who have attained the age of retirement and also his speech on crime in the Federation.
“The PM announced recently that persons 55 and over will be sent home. I am one of the fortunate ones who still have my job and I want to celebrate that. St. Kitts and Nevis signed on to these conventions about the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. The PM mentioned something yesterday - I call it the sweetheart speech on crime in St. Kitts - just after his own Press Secretary assaulted me! How could you curb crime and acts of violence in St. Kitts when within the bowels of Labour itself this is happening? And, I’m speaking to my own case. Now, I have a burst mouth, a neck sprain and a serious pain in my right hip. I have already been to see two doctors…one at the hospital and my personal doctor.”
The PAM executive declared that she would be taking the matter to court and is calling on Minister Marcella Liburd and others to organise a march to stop violence against women.
“I will take the matter to court. I will summons him and I will sue him. I don’t want to do this just to get his money, but I want to make him a public example. I am calling on Marcella Liburd as Minister, Rosalyn Hazelle and Cecelia Christopher in the Ministry to organise a march to stop all these violent acts against women. Given that the Labour Party is in government and he is the right hand of the party, I don’t know what will come of it. But, I will take my case regionally and internationally!”
The PM’s Press Secretary was also contacted and he briefly gave an account of what transpired.
“I was abused, attacked and assaulted by Ms. Cyndie Demming during the execution of my duties as the Press Secretary of the Prime Minister during the Labour Day March on Monday. This is a matter which may go before the court and I wish to make no further comment.”
SKNVibes spoke with the Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for Crime, Joseph Liburd, who said, “Both parties have made reports to the police, and following investigations the appropriate actions will be taken.”
