The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

ACTING Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said as far as he knew, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) has not received complaints of use of excessive force or abuse stemming from Monday’s protest at the Sidney Poitier Bridge.

However, he urged any affected person to file a formal complaint with the RBPF’s Complaints and Corruption Unit.

On Monday, police officers had violent clashes with irate Cabbage Beach vendors after several of them used cars and their bodies to block traffic heading to the Sidney Poitier Bridge. The vendors were protesting a fence that had been erected on Monday blocking entry to one of two access points to Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island.

Vendors told The Tribune that during the commotion some of them were allegedly struck about the body by officers, kicked and dragged from the scene.

Bystander cell phone video of the protest showed several vendors being dragged and restrained by armed police. Video footage also showed officers allegedly kicking one man who was sitting in a lane on the bridge, as bystanders screamed for the officers to stop.

At least two protesters were arrested during the standoff.

DCP Ferguson, when contacted yesterday, did not speak to the actions of the officers directly, but urged persons to file a formal complaint if they were on the receiving end of the officers’ alleged improper actions.

“I don’t know of anybody who made any reports to the police,” he said. “Certainly persons are affected by anything which they perceive might be illegal. What I recommend is that they file a report with the police Complaints and Corruption Unit and we will take a look at it.”

Meanwhile, former Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Thompson yesterday supported the actions of police officers during Monday’s protest, charging that the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) force needs to have “zero tolerance” for such actions.

Mr Thompson said while he does believe in “peaceful” demonstrations, protesters should never perform actions that will “cause disruption to people who are not involved”.

He said the RBPF is obligated to ensure that a “breach of good order” does not take place and the “free movement of good people” is maintained.

However, Mr Thompson disapproved of police allegedly “stomping and kicking” protestors, as some have claimed, but said police can “hold them and pull them (protesters)” if they are not being co-operative, particularly if they are obstructing traffic.

On Tuesday, police clashed with the vendors and protesters a second time after the angry demonstrators tore down the recently constructed fence blocking the beach path.

“If people are going to demonstrate and the demonstration is going to cause a breach of the peace, a breach of good order, the free movement of good people, the police have to do something,” Mr Thompson said yesterday. “If the people are sitting on the street, police have to move them. In any country in the world, police have to move them. If they’re not moving willingly then you actually have to use some force to move them. But the force used should be just enough to move them. If they were kicking anybody, that’s wrong. You shouldn’t kick people. But you can hold them and pull them. You can’t let people just take over.”

He added: “The police force has to make up its mind in zero tolerance in dealing with these things, because it will start small but later it will grow bigger. People must know there are certain laws and you must respect those laws.

“…I believe in demonstrations myself; I believe in peaceful demonstrations. I’m not going to do anything that’s going to cause disruption to people who are not involved. But those people going to work at various places on Paradise Island should be free to go to work, and the police have to ensure this.”

The closure of the access point was a result of the transfer of ownership of Cabbage Beach from Atlantis (Brookfield) to a subsidiary of Access Industries in 2014, officials have said.

In a statement released Tuesday morning, the government stated that the sales agreement between Access Industries and Brookfield required Brookfield to close the existing beach path adjacent to the Riu resort and relocate to the access point located on the Brookfield-owned property on Garden Drive off of Paradise Island Drive.

The statement indicated that in response to a direct request from Prime Minister Perry Christie, Access Industries has agreed to permit the beach path adjacent to the Riu to remain open for a period of time to allow the prime minister to work personally on finding an alternative solution for the beach vendors who currently work that area of Cabbage Beach.