Students, adults charged; senior cop says no tolerance for public brawls

By Ashford Peters  

The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Fore (RSVGPF) has arrested six people – students and adults — in connection with a public brawl on the Leeward side of the St. Vincent on Wednesday.

The RSVGPF said in a press release on Friday that, following investigations, police arrested Barrouallie residents 21-year-old Kaylia Edwards, 15-year-old student Cherish Robert, 17-year-old student Alphie Reece; 16-year-old student Melissa Solomon; 58-year-old farmer Maurita Solomon, and 27-year-old Philisha Anderson and charged them with the offence of affray.

The press release said the public brawl occurred along Peter’s Hope Public Road on Feb. 18, disrupting the area and placing members of the public at risk.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Trevor “Buju” Bailey, the officer in charge of crime-fighting, had assured Vincentians on Thursday that the long arm of the law would reach every parent and other participants involved in the brawl, which occurred at a school’s sporting event.

Bailey gave that assurance in a call to the New Times programme on NICE Radio.

That brawl came close on the heels of three other recent public brawls, involving youth gangs at a KFC outlet, a community on the Windward side of St. Vincent and in Barrouallie on the leeward side of the island.

“… this time, it actually involved parents, adults. Adults who were there to witness their child or children and other children participate in a school event, school heats,” Bailey said, noting the lack of respect as teachers, other parents, students, and uniformed police officers were also present. And yet, parents engaged in a big brawl.”

The ACP’s comments were indicative of the police force’s intention to crush gang violence that erupted in a number of communities and schools in recent weeks.

“Well…  there are consequences for actions. So, rest assured that all of those persons who were engaging in that sort of behaviour yesterday afternoon will — no if or maybe — they will be arrested and taken before the court as well, because we don’t want it to be a situation where … you have to use the strong arm of the law to bring society to normalcy. But if it takes that, then we’re well prepared to do that,” Bailey said.

Bailey said that as far as his law enforcement organisation is concerned, “effecting an arrest is a very simple matter”, perhaps “the easiest part of our duty”.

Bailey appealed to the public to desist from such behaviour, saying that police officers will not tolerate it.

“It doesn’t reflect the values of our society and that of our people. And we are more loving, we are more friendly, we are a more accommodating people. And the sort of violence that we see escalating in society, I am making a personal call for us to desist from that kind of behaviour,” Bailey said.

The police press release said the streets are shared spaces for travel and daily activity, and when they become sites of confrontation, the safety of road users and bystanders is put at risk.

“Behaviour of this nature, wherever it occurs, will bring a firm police response”, the release said, adding that it was of concern “to see young persons among those charged…

“Youth does not excuse violence, and adulthood does not justify it. Conflict carried into public spaces affects more than those directly involved. It impacts families, commuters, and the wider community.

“Parents, guardians, and community leaders all have a role in guiding disputes away from confrontation and toward resolution. Intervention and accountability remain essential if communities are to remain stable and safe,” the police press release said.

Following their arrest, the accused were each granted EC$1,500 station bail, with one surety.

They are scheduled to appear before the Barrouallie Magistrate Court on March 4 to answer the charges.

The RSVGPF said it would continue to act where public order is threatened so that residents can move through their communities without fear or disruption.