No escape

AG warns Crop Over fete invaders police coming for them, zero tolerance for hooliganism By Shamar Blunt Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Dale Marshall has warned people invading and starting trouble at Crop Over events that they will not escape the legal consequences. “I can assure those individuals who want nothing more than to have an enjoyable season, and I can assure those individuals who somehow or the other feel that they can come and disturb it, that the members of the Police Service are on their guard. They will be using every element of modern technology that is available…. This is not something that we either will not tolerate or want to tolerate,” he asserted in Parliament on Tuesday. Marshall spoke sternly just over two weeks after the Powda wet fete was marred by hundreds of people breaking down barricades, illegally entering the fete and causing fights, stampedes and damage to vendor stalls. He said that while the culprits may feel they have escaped the clutches of the law, the police and other relevant authorities are on top of the situation and appropriate action is being taken. “I am letting these men and women who feel that hooliganism and so on in Barbados will be allowed to affect our Crop Over, not under this Government’s watch. They do not think about the fact that what they have done has created a problem for other fetes, for other events,” he said as he tabled the Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lower House, adding that the Powda incident was “perhaps a clarion call for all of us because we have seen the rise of indiscipline in our society”. “I do not want to make this into more than it is, but the fools who believe that they got away with it – and they haven’t, but they feel that they got away with it – and the fools who saw it and may feel ‘boy, next fete, let a group of we try that too’, they have another thing coming.” Noting that Crop Over is an important festival for Barbados, Marshall added: “We have families whose livelihoods depend on a successful Crop Over…. How dare a bunch of hooligans believe that it is right for them to disturb the merriment of individuals who come out just to party in an environment of peace and safety.” At the same time, the AG said promoters have a responsibility to take the necessary steps to safeguard patrons. “I must also say to promoters that they have a solemn duty to their patrons to be sure that they make the appropriate investment in their own security. The Barbados Police Service buttressed by the efforts and staff of the BDF, buttressed by today’s technology will be doing our part… but it is your event, Mr Promoter; you are the person who will have all to gain and all to lose. “Therefore, as you plan your event you have to make sure that you put the appropriate security for the appropriate event,” Marshall said. shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb]]>