BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JUST about one hour before his scheduled meeting with the nation’s youth to discuss issues affecting them, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. the Hon. Denzil Llewellyn Douglas was allegedly involved in a physical encounter with PAM’s Constituency Number One representative and media practitioner, Glenroy Blanchette.
Initial information reaching SKNVibes stated that the Prime Minister was at Project Strong in a meeting with Washington ‘Washie’ Archibald and another individual and, when he exited the premises, an altercation ensued between himself and Blanchette.
This media house made contact with Blanchette who confirmed that an incident did take place and he recounted the specifics of it.
He said he was attending a “Fish Fry” at Project Strong and when he saw the PM exiting the premises he took pictures of him; actions with which, he said, the PM was obviously displeased.
“I was at Project Strong by Washie’s ‘Fish Fry’ at about 7:00 p.m. last night. I saw the Prime Minister leaving, apparently he was inside the building and he was leaving, so I took a photograph of him. Apparently, he did not like it so he approached me in an angry manner filled with rage demanding why I took his picture and that I had no right to take his picture. So I simply said to him, ‘Sir, you are a public official and I am a journalist. I have all the right to take your picture.’ And he began to put his hand in my face and he grabbed my camera...I pulled it away. He continued in his rage, ‘You have no right to take my picture! You have no right to take my picture,’” he alleged.
Blanchette said that he was shoved by one of the Prime Minister’s body guards during the incident.
“One of his personal bodyguards -I don’t know his name but I can identify him – he too approached me demanding the same thing. (He) pushed me in my back when I attempted to walk away and so I continued walking away and went to my vehicle.”
The People’s Action Movement Constituency Number One representative further explained that he, minutes later, went to the Basseterre Police Station and filed a formal complaint.
“A few minutes later, I went to the police station and filed a report about the incident...They took the complaint and they asked me what action I would like them to take. I said to them I’m going to consult with my lawyers for advice.”
The journalist said the incident left him “in total shock” as he “didn’t expect the Prime Minister, a public official, to behave in such a way. It is beyond me in this day and age to see the Prime Minister, the leader of a country, behaving in such a way towards a journalist. It’s not the first time I’ve taken his picture because I’ve been to press conferences.”
Blanchette informed that preliminary discussions with his lawyers have already been had and he is scheduled to meet with them sometime this morning.
SKNVibes contacted the Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Cromwell Henry, and asked if he was aware of a complaint/report filed with the police on the incident. The Inspector indicated that he was unaware. Contact was also made with Commissioner of Police Austin Williams and he confirmed that a complaint/report was lodged and that investigations into the incident are being made.
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Erasmus Williams was also contacted by this media house concerning the incident and he offered no comment. SKNVibes further enquired if the Prime was available to comment on the incident and was told that he was not in office.
