The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE wife of a taxicab driver arrested during Monday’s Cabbage Beach protest at the foot of the Sidney Poitier Bridge said her husband is in good spirits despite physical pain.

Levern Collie, in an interview with The Tribune, said her family was still working to find out the extent of the injuries allegedly sustained by her husband during Monday’s ordeal. However, she said the “unmistakable joy” expressed by the veteran taxi driver over his refusal “to have his livelihood taken away” has been the only solace.

According Mrs Collie, her husband Crawley Collie was allegedly beaten by police in their attempt to arrest him on the bridge.

Mr Collie, along with other cab drivers and beach vendors angered by the closure of the western access point to the Paradise Island Beach, formed a human chain and sat down on the bridge, preventing motorists from passing.

Officers on the scene instructed the group to stop their actions and move away from the site and the group refused.

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 - that man is understood to be Mr Collie.

“He was standing up for his family, standing up for his rights, standing up for his coworkers. That beach means a lot to taxi drivers because it represents a chance for them to feed their families,” said Mrs Collie.

“He was doing what he did because he wanted to ensure that his means of income remained available to him.”

Mr Collie was held by police for 48 hours, the legal amount of time someone can be in custody without being charged, and released at 2pm on Wednesday.

His wife said he was not abused while in custody, but alleged that he sustained injuries during his arrest.

While in custody Mrs Collie alleged that her husband received “basic” medical attention. She said subsequent to his release yesterday she took him to a private physician.

On Tuesday, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said as far as he knew, no one had made complaints of use of excessive force by officers stemming from Monday’s protest.

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

When asked if her family intended to seek recourse in the matter, Mrs Collie said she wasn’t sure at this time. She insisted that the family was more focused on Mr Collie’s health.

Mr Collie was one of two men arrested on Monday. The other man has also been released.

In a statement released Tuesday morning the government indicated that Access Industries had 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.