Grenadian Sisters Humiliated in Barbados
The Caribbean Is One Nation.
CC6 News in Grenada
this week reported on the experience of the Gilbert family, which was shared on
Wednesday night television talk show ‘You Decide’.
Grenadian sisters
recount ‘humiliating’ experience in Barbados
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According to siblings
Lynell and Tamika Gilbert, their trip to Barbados in October 2016 to renew
their US visas took a terrible turn after they were accused of theft, taken
into police custody and strip searched.
The sisters recounted that after completing
their business with other family members at the US Embassy here, they went into
Bridgetown to do some shopping. After making some purchases in a store in Mall
34, they left and went into another mall across the street. However, not long
afterwards, the store owner from Mall 34 followed them to the other mall and
asked Tamika if she had stolen her cell phone.
Tamika said she was
taken aback by the question, but knowing she was innocent, was cooperative and
emptied her bag for the store owner to see she did not have her phone. The
woman left, saying she was going to check her security footage, but instead
returned with police officers.
The Gilbert sisters said the situation became
very hostile as “about 20 police officers or more” converged on the scene, some
in plain clothes and others armed, making them wonder why such a commotion was
being made over an unsubstantiated accusation of theft. They were told that if
they refused to go to the police station they would be arrested for suspicion
of theft.
They said they went
willingly to the police station, where they were made to remove all their
clothing and squat and cough as part of a strip search for the missing
cellphone.
Throughout the ordeal,
the Gilbert sisters said the officers of the Royal Barbados Police Force were
very aggressive towards them, barking orders and treating them with hostility.
The Gilbert sisters
said they were eventually told the security footage from the store could not
assist in the investigation and since their release, nothing further has come
of the matter.
Also appearing on the You Decide programme was attorney Ruggles Ferguson, a
former President of the Grenada Bar Association as well as the OECS Bar
Association. Ferguson described the actions of the RBPF officers as
“lawless”, adding that anecdotal experience suggests that the treatment meted
out to the Gilbert sisters is not unusual when it comes to the RBPF – a
travesty that he says needs to be addressed.
Loop
News reached out to the
Royal Barbados Police Force and Police spokesperson Roland Cobbler said that
police investigated that matter last year, but he said that he will relook into
it and provide further information.
[UPDATE:
4:00pm]
In a statement issued
by the Police spokesperson Roland Cobbler, he said that the administration of
the Royal Barbados Police Force has ordered an internal investigation into
a recent Facebook posting which is circulating, entitled Grenadian sisters
recount ‘humiliating experience in Barbados'. This posting highlights an
encounter by a Grenadian family with members of the Royal Barbados Police
Force.
A press release will
be made in due course following these investigations.
Compliments of Loop News
The Mahogany Coconut Group calls for an immediate stop to such incidents throughout the region.
Compliments of Loop News
The Mahogany Coconut Group calls for an immediate stop to such incidents throughout the region.
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