AFC waiting on police probe before commenting on Broomes incident

The Alliance for Change will await the findings of the police investigation into last week’s altercation between Junior Minister Simona Broomes, her driver Dexter David and two security guards in the parking lot of the Amazonia Mall at Providence, East Bank Demerara before making a statement.

“The AFC would wish to await the findings of the official investigation, which we understand is imminent, before making any public pronouncements,” Leader of the AFC, Raphael Trotman told Stabroek News, when contacted yesterday. The AFC is part of the governing coalition. Trotman is also the senior minister in the ministry where Broomes is assigned.

Police Crime Chief, Paul Williams told this newspaper that the investigations should be completed by the end of this week.

Broomes has remained silent on the matter which was captured on a surveillance camera and for which she has come under severe criticism.

On the sidelines of the Sitting of the National Assembly last week, Broomes refused to answer questions from reporters.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Broomes said as she casually walked to the chambers. The minister maintained the response as reporters continued to question her.

The Junior Minister of Natural Resources, had claimed that she and her driver were verbally abused and threatened by the two security guards but surveillance footage of the confrontation showed otherwise. Nevertheless, based on her initial complaint, the two guards were detained by police for 16 hours before they were released on their own recognisance.

Crime Chief Paul Williams also landed himself in hot water over comments he made to the Guyana Chronicle, in which he criticised the actions of the guards.

In the report, he was reported as saying that the security guards should have used their judgement to determine the class of person that was venturing onto the premises. “…from the time you see a vehicle of a certain standard, it is supposed to arouse your attention and alertness,” he noted, before adding that as soon as the minister identified herself they should have apologised and tried explaining their position in a different tone.

Williams yesterday told Stabroek News that his views were “misconstrued” and that he had nothing further to say on the issue.