Barbadian MP on rape charge granted $10 000 bail

Former Deputy Speaker of the Barbados House of Assembly, Neil Rowe was arraigned [Monday]in the Oistins Court charged with having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female last month.

Rowe, the two-time MP for St Michael North West, was not required to plead to the charge that he raped the woman on September 18 this year.

The politician was represented by attorneys Roger Forde (KC), and Safiya Moore.

Following no objection from the prosecutor, acting Inspector Peter Barrow, Rowe was granted $10 000 bail with one surety by Magistrate Deidre McKenna on his first appearance and the matter was adjourned until January 30 next year.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley had named veteran MP, Cynthia Forde as the new Deputy Speaker of the House, with effect from tomorrow [October 24].

Rowe arrived at Oistins in a police vehicle at 9.31 a.m., and was flanked by three members of the Barbados Police Service as he entered the court.

The accused man was met by a flurry of activity outside the court, where journalists had gathered.

Rowe hid his face under a blue scarf as he entered the court wearing a white shirt jack and navy blue pants.

Also at court for support, was the Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Labour Party, Pat Parris, and other party members.

After arraignment, Forde told reporters he had grave concerns about information regarding the case which been placed in the public domain via social media.

The veteran lawyer said such leaking of information, some allegedly from the contents of a police station diary, could prejudice the position of any females in Barbados who wanted to make reports to the Barbados Police Service.

“It’s not fair to women in Barbados,” Forde told the court.

McKenna told the attorneys present she was sure the Commissioner of Police, Richard Boyce would take note of all that had transpired, and take any necessary action (Barbados Nation).