Suspect identified in theft from Parliament museum

The police have identified a suspect in the recent theft of artefacts from the Museum of Parliament.

Speaker of the House of Assembly Arthur Holder told Tuesday’s sitting that fingerprints were found and a person “known to police” was seen in footage during investigations into the theft of items from the museum, including the iconic jacket worn by Barbados’ first Prime Minister Errol Walton Barrow on the night the country became independent.

“I have been informed that the fingerprint results are back, and I expect soon that the police will give an update to the public and the stage that the investigations are at, because the footage has shown a particular person that is known to the police,” he said.

The Speaker listed the missing items as a briefcase of Sir Grantley Adams, two armorial badges, a flintlock pistol and two cutlasses, a royal blue jacket, black bow tie and yellow cumberbund worn by Barrow for Independence, Barrow’s leather boots, the ceramic cup of Samuel Jackman Prescod, a conch shell, black and white tobacco case with pipe, a bugle, a rebate plane, three hand drills, police belt buckle from the 1937 riots, and the wing icon of Sir Frank Walcott.

His statement came weeks after reports emerged about the intrusion in the area of the historic City buildings where the museum is housed.

Holder said he had requested a report on October 14 from the Clerk of Parliament after two members of staff reported that they went to the museum to recover a ballot box and discovered there had been a break-in and items were missing.

He informed the Lower Chamber that the reports he received between October 22 and 24 were forwarded to the police.

Holder said he last met with a senior superintendent on November 6 when he was informed about the fingerprints.
(SP)