Eustace to take action against members of the Police Force

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace has promised action against members of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) for what he has termed the “manhandling” of Members of Parliament on March 3.{{more}}

Speaking at a public meeting at Chateaubelair last Saturday, March 19, Eustace said that he was not going to allow members of the Police Force to forget what took place on that day.

“We have the names of those who did that and will be taking the necessary action to deal with it,” he said.

The Leader of the Opposition added that no one inside the Parliament saw the police manhandle members of the opposition, because the door was closed.

“So when Gonsalves (Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves) make all those statements, he did not see what happened to members of Parliament in the Opposition,” Eustace declared.

He said that area representative for West Kingstown Daniel Cummings’ foot was stuck in the door and that police officers “picked him up and threw him down the first flight of stairs.”

Eustace contended that as he was being held back by three police officers, Senators Anesia Baptiste and Vynnette Frederick and elected Parliamentarians Dr Godwin Friday and Daniel Cummings were on the floor.

Eustace added that he saw the police push and kick his daughter.

“I saw the use of feet and saw kicking of people by the police of this country,” he told the residents of North Leeward.

He maintained that no one in the House would have been in a position to see what had actually taken place.

“The Prime Minister of this country could not see what was happening, so when he praising the police and say we damage ourselves, he lying – he lying; he could not have seen anything, because the doors had been closed.”

Eustace said that the prime minister made comments in the aftermath of the events that took place on March 3, including that he (Eustace) had brought disgrace and that he had disrespected the House.

He, however, differed on this view saying that he was fully aware that had he taken his seat, there would have been no further opportunity for him to stand up.

“It was an act of civil disobedience and I do not apologize to anybody for what I did,” he contended. (DD)