Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
News
June 29, 2007

Eustace cries foul after charge against Cummings

The Opposition leader is accusing the Government of using intimidation tactics in an effort to shut his party up; he however vows to continue to speak out against issues he feels are affecting the country.

Arnhim Eustace was commenting on new legal developments stemming from his party’s April 27 protest action at the Grenadines Wharf in Kingstown.{{more}}

Senator Daniel Cummings has to appear at this country’s Serious Offences Court at 9.00 a.m. on Monday, July 2, as defendant in a complaint brought against him by the Commissioner of Police.

The Complaint made is as follows; “That the defendant (Daniel Cummings)…on the 27th day of April, 2007 did unlawfully at Kingstown, in St Vincent and the Grenadines and within the First Magisterial District assault Alasius Stapleton, Police Constable No. 749, acting in the due execution of his duty.”

In a press conference last Tuesday, Senator Cummings said that his lawyers have filed private criminal proceedings against the said police officer and is awaiting a court date to argue their case.

“This is before the court awaiting a date which we hope will coincide with the police case,” Senator Cummings said.

Cummings further said that following the march and the incidents that occurred, he submitted a letter to the Commissioner of Police detailing the events as they occurred.

“To date, there has not even been an acknowledgement of this letter by the office of the Commissioner of Police,” Cummings said.

Meanwhile Eustace told SEARCHLIGHT that he is not fazed by the Government’s approach to dealing with opposition.

“They are trying to make us cower and stay silent but that would not work,” Eustace said.

This whole legal chess match stems from an incident on April 27th when Senator Daniel Cumming and others in the hierarchy of the New Democratic Party (NDP), the major opposition party in the country, led a demonstration at the Grenadines Wharf in objection to a $1 user fee that was implemented by the Port Authority on April 16.

According to reports, after a day of peaceful demonstration, the protesters clashed with the police officers including some from the Rapid Response Unit (RRU). The altercation began when the gate that barred access to the wharf was opened to let a car through and the protesters tried to push their way through on to the wharf.

It is during this clash that Senator Daniel Cummings and parliamentarian Dr Godwin Friday claim that they were assaulted by police; Senator Cummings stating that he was punched in his mouth, unprovoked, from through a gate.

Shortly after the incident, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ekron Lockhart told SEARCHLIGHT that an investigation spearheaded by Inspector Franklin Williams had been launched into the matter.

The senior police officer told SEARCHLIGHT then, that once the investigation had been completed and the report submitted, then any action deemed necessary will be taken.

Lockhart assured SEARCHLIGHT that such action would be taken whether it was against police officers or persons who were part of the protest action. He said that the police would be looking to interview as many eyewitnesses as possible.

“Events unfolding in our blessed land often make us wonder if we are in a democracy or if the dark days of communism have taken over our country,” Senator Cummings said yesterday.

Eustace said that he absolutely supports his colleague in the matter.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Front Page
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    A fire that destroyed a multi-family complex in Richland Park on Monday has left at least 12 people homeless, including a 23-year-old mother of a six-...
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Front Page
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has responded to reports by the United States administration that its military had carried out the bombing of a boa...
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Front Page
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Police investigators on Union Island are said to be looking into the “disappearance” of building materials that were sent to the Southern Grenadine Is...
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Front Page
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    by Grace Francis After sharing a small space for over a year, children and teachers at the Fitz Hughes Early Childhood Centre went into brand new prem...
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Front Page
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Several secondary schools and special needs institutions across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have received $5,000 donations towards meals for s...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    News
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    News
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is leading a delegation to the East African country of Ethiopia; the delegation left the state on Wednesday, Septe...
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    News
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The modern port in Kingstown is expected to be handed over to the government just before this country celebrates its 46th anniversary of political ind...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok