The Police Service Commission (PSC) has reportedly been instructed not to investigate allegations that a senior male police officer has been making unwanted sexual advances towards his male subordinates.
A source close to the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal, said the PSC met with Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Monday and he rubbished the claims and does not support an investigation.
The source said that Browne pointed out that the complaints from the three junior ranks and an applicant to the force are not “official” because they were not reported as crimes to the police and it is one person’s word against another.
Based on the letters of complaint, two of them were written on official police statement forms.
Earlier, both the prime minister and Minister of Public Safety, Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, confirmed that they are aware of at least one report of sexual impropriety.
Yesterday, the source who provided an update on the PM’s meeting with the Commission, said that meeting came hours after the PSC met with Benjamin the same day.
And, the source said some of the members of the PSC left the meeting with Benjamin confident that a probe would have been conducted and they would proceed using an independent investigator. The source said it was also decided that before taking a step forward, they would meet with the prime minister.
Meanwhile, the source who disclosed the details of the meeting with Benjamin, also revealed that the PSC commissioners, seven of them, met at the law office of its Chairman, Kelvin John on Monday, before going to see Benjamin and PM Browne. – Antigua OBSERVER
