Searchlight reporter threatened

Threats issued to a SEARCHLIGHT journalist by a man who claims to be the father of a primary school student who died at Glen, have been reported to the police. The incident stemmed from an on-line story published by SEARCHLIGHT about the death of 10 year old Dannique Small.

On Monday, September 16, 2024, a release issued by the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said investigators attached to the Calliaqua Police Station in the South-Central Division launched an investigation on Saturday, September 14, 2024, in relation to Small’s death.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that around midday on Saturday September 14, 2024, the police at the Calliaqua Police Station received a report via telephone that a family of four was discovered in their house in Glen in distress and one of them appeared to be dead,” the police report states in part.

The report went on to state that on arrival at the scene, the police discovered four females – one adult, and three minors in the house.

On Tuesday September 17,2024, SEARCHLIGHT published an article in relation to Small’s death; and on Wednesday, September 18, a reporter with the paper started receiving threatening messages and voice notes via WhatsApp from a man who claims to be the child’s father.

While the man did not state over which part of the article he was upset, he had this to say:

“Bitch you guys need to do what you all #***ng doing right ah nah. Do what you all doing right you know. I have your picture on the #***ng phone here you know. Know what you doing with me. Know what you publishing about me ah nah woman.

“Know what alyo doing at Searchlight dey ah nah. I is a #**k up man ah nah. Ask the police them about  me, ask them about me. I is a known man ask them about me…,” the man said in the first voice note which was 18 seconds long.

In another voice note, 28 seconds long, he said: “you coming and tell me police tell you all that. Police can’t tell you all that. They say they interview somebody. SEARCHLIGHT interview somebody. SEARCHLIGHT interview the police? What the police know? What them know? Read, you ain’t see the article? Read. What happen you is a dunce or something? Police can’t tell you all that. You all ain’t have enough sense? What you all go school for? Watch aryo don’t play with me ah nah. Don’t play with me. SEARCHLIGHT go dey in problem every day ah nah,” he ranted.

Over the years, persons have been charged by the police for threatening media personnel, which is a problem that constantly rears its head from members of the public.

In July 2018, a woman of Layou was reprimanded and discharged after being found guilty of threatening the life of a SEARCHLIGHT reporter, while in December 2018, a man of Campden Park was fined for assaulting journalist, Kenton Chance.

In February, 2023, then Editor of SEARCHLIGHT, Clare Keizer; journalist Kenton Chance, Executive Editor of iWitness News; as well as Hadyn Huggins a freelance court reporter with The Vincentian Newspaper; along with Kemarlie Durrant, a then court reporter with SEARCHLIGHT, signed a letter which was sent to then Commissioner of Police, Colin John.

The letter was copied to the Minister of National Security, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves; then Chief Magistrate, Rechanne Browne; then Senior Magistrate, Rickie Burnett; as well as the then Superintendent of Prisons, Timothy Hazlewood. It was copied as well to the Association of Caribbean Media Workers. The contents of the letter dealt with the issuing of threats, specifically by accused individuals charged with various offences over which the news outlets were reporting, or on which they had reported.