A police officer who is said to be close to the campaign of the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) West St. George candidate, Kaschaka Cupid, has been charged with assaulting a constable at the party’s campaign rally in Owia on Saturday and sent on no-pay leave, contrary to the relevant regulations.
On Monday, Acting Corporal of Police Kenroy Martin, who has 26 years of service in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, was sent on no-pay leave, effective immediately, even without being asked about what had transpired, iWitness News was told.
A police officer charged with a criminal offence is to be sent on half-pay leave, pending the outcome of the charge.
Martin, who is being represented by Israel Bruce, the NDP’s candidate for South Central Windward in Thursday’s (today) general election, was granted EC$1,500 station bail and ordered to appear before a magistrate on Monday.
Martin was off-duty on Saturday and a passenger in a vehicle that was delivering medical personnel and food to the NDP rally in Owia.
He reportedly drove the vehicle after the woman who had been driving was unnerved when the constable lifted his reflector vest, revealing his firearm.
iWitness News understands that the alleged injury to the officer’s foot occurred as the constable reportedly grabbed Martin, who replaced the woman as the driver.
The constable had reportedly refused to let the vehicle onto the Owia Playing Field, where the rally was held, despite Martin’s pleadings with him that the vehicle was transporting medical staff to work at the rally and food for the NDP candidates.
The vehicle had repeatedly failed to reach the playing field via the direction in which the police had sent it two hours before the alleged assault occurred.
Sources in the know tell iWitness News that there had been an incident in London, Sandy Bay, a few weeks earlier, when Martin was on duty regulating traffic as the NDP held its “Warm Up Rally” on Oct. 25.
The constable who Martin is now alleged to have injured was off duty and driving a vehicle and reportedly disobeyed Martin’s instruction to proceed in a particular direction.
The constable allegedly told Martin that he (Martin) was from Kingstown and could not tell him what to do in Sandy Bay, his home village.
The incident and charge came 10 weeks after Martin was transferred from the Process Department of the police force, where he had been assigned for the past few years.
In the 10 weeks since his initial transfer, Martin was transferred to Georgetown Police Station, then to Owia, then to Colonarie, then back to Georgetown and then to Bequia, where he has been stationed for the last three weeks.
You can see its plain victimization of this policeman by the upper ranks.