A Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice woman has reported to the police an October 9th assault by New York-based media personality, Ossie Rodgers which was captured on CCTV cameras.
Rodgers, who left the country following the incident, said yesterday on Facebook that he would be issuing a statement on the matter today.
According to Kamala Devi Bharrat, 31, of Bath Settlement, she was at work at the supermarket located in Bath Settlement and operated by Chinese nationals, when Rodgers who was a customer entered. She said he was opening the fridge to take out some beers to purchase when she asked him to be careful how he opened the door of the fridge which has an issue.
“I tell he my boss lady ain’t like when people open it like that and then by time that (happened) my boss lady called on him and tell him she ain’t want nobody open the door like that and he didn’t listen and turn around and then she had a stick in her hand and she tap it on his shoulder and told him and he and she start argue and he said how he ain’t leaving the supermarket how he is a big bai and he will call the police”, Bharrat said.
According to her, Rodgers purchased the beers and proceeded outside where he was hanging out with some friends while imbibing.
She said about one hour later she ventured outside to collect a mop and bucket to begin mopping the supermarket as they were preparing to close when Rodgers started to insult her.
“He say how that’s the work me got to do for the rest of my life, me got to wipe them Chiney people floor and me can’t do nothing more and me tell him that the incident you and boss lady had na done? That just leave it and done”, she said.
She said he then made a statement that annoyed her which prompted her to verbally respond to him and his friends who were also chiming in at this time.
“After me argue back with he, he said how he get one mind slap me and me just walk away and go in the supermarket and he start cuss and follow me and say how he gone slap me and when he come in the supermarket me continue argue with him and he rush over and slap me and me pick up one slippers and pelt him in his face”, she said. She said that she was then knocked in her head with an object.
The incident was recorded on CCTV video which was seen by this newspaper.
After the incident, Bharrat’s employers rushed her to the Fort Wellington Police Station where she said that she was treated as the accused. “The police keep asking him if he’s okay and he tell them yes and he leave… And them asking me if I sure me want a problem and if me want court story and so and if me sure.”
She said she gave a statement and was told to sign the document which she was not able to read back due to the pain she was experiencing in her head. After that, her employers took her to the hospital where she was treated and a medical was done.
Efforts to contact the Commander of Region Five on the matter on Sunday and yesterday proved futile. However, Bharrat said last week she visited the commander’s office to inquire about the matter where she was told “that me ain’t want no story. The commander said how them tell he how me ain’t want none court story and that is not true me want this matter to investigate.”
