Red Carpet Affair turns sour after eating spiked dessert

What was supposed to be one of the most enjoyable nights of their lives ended on a sour note for two recent graduates of the Division of Arts, Sciences and Humanities of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College. {{more}}

Hours after their graduation ceremony on Monday, June 22, 2009, Rafiela Phillips and Aria Laidlow ended up at the Accident and Emergency Department of the Milton Cato Memorial after eating cake which they suspect was laced with marijuana.

Laidlow, 19, told Searchlight that up until 11 p.m., the evening was proceeding normally, and she was dancing and having a good time with her friends at the Aquatic Club, where the graduates of the college had arranged their own private graduation ball, called “Transitions- A Red Carpet Affair”.

At about 11pm, she said that two male former students of the college came around with a platter serving what she thought to be chocolate cake. “I took a piece and ate it, but I did not feel anything at that time. I just remember that it felt rather warm, as if it had just been taken out of an oven,” Laidlow said.

It was not until two hours later that things took a turn for the worse. “I started feeling really funny about 1 a.m., then I went to sit down and picked up something off the floor. As soon as I raised my head, everything in the entire room started spinning,” she recalled.

At this point, Aria said she drank some water and went outside to get some fresh air. “I just start feeling high, but I was still aware of my surroundings at the time,” she noted. Laidlow said she went to rest in a car and began experiencing irregular heartbeats, limpness throughout her body and her skin turned purple. The young teen was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital to be treated. “I honestly thought I was going to die, so I started praying and repenting,” she added.

Meanwhile, Phillips, who experienced mostly mood swings, said word started spreading about the cake being laced with marijuana shortly after her friend Aria took ill. “The cake was the only thing we ate that night, and after I had a piece. I just started acting in a weird manner,” Phillips stated. She noted that while on her way to the hospital she began laughing uncontrollably, then she started crying and even cursed some people at the hospital.

The results of tests performed on blood and urine samples taken from the young women have not yet been received.

Reports also indicate that four other students were taken to the hospital that night complaining of feeling unwell after consuming the mystery cake.

Marvin Fraser, one of Phillips’ relatives, said that he is thankful that everyone involved in the matter is okay and no serious harm was done. However, he said that the “stupid prank” pulled that night could have cost the lives of innocent persons. He said he is still astonished at the way the nurses acted in a nonchalant manner, even when the girls told them there might have been marijuana in the cake. “This whole thing was taken for granted and I’m still amazed at how they dealt with the entire situation,” he stated.

Other reliable sources also indicate that other students complained of feeling ill and some even vomited. Details are still sketchy surrounding the origin of the cake or what was really in it.

When contacted, Dean of the Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies, Rosa Vanloo, asserted that the college did not put on the function held at Aquatic. A press release dated June 24, 2009, stated: “The Director of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College and the Dean and staff of the Division would like the public to know that the Division has not organised a graduation ball for students since 2004.”

Both girls also lodged a complaint about the matter with the Calliaqua Police Station on Tuesday this week. Police there indicated that the allegations were brought to their attention and are currently being investigated.