Woman in labour forced off the PBR, no apology from cop

Arlene Laban-Ammon, who made headlines last year when a police officer issued her a ticket and forced her to leave the Priority Bus Route (PBR) despite her being in labour and on the way to the hospital, says she still has not received an apology.

Laban-Ammon was speaking yesterday at a media conference held at the constituency office of her attorney and St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar in Tunapuna together with husband Donny, their daughter Amelia, one year-old son Armani and Dr Sherene Kalloo, who led the team that delivered the baby.

On September 26, 2016, Laban-Ammon, then 36 of Arima, went into labour while on the way to the St Augustine Private Hospital.

Her husband decided to avoid the heavy traffic and go on to the PBR but was stopped in a roadblock by a police officer. Despite Ammon informing the officer that his wife was in labour and being rushed to hospital the officer instructed another to issue them a $2,000 ticket and ordered them to come off the PBR.

The couple eventually made it to the hospital and Armani was delivered via emergency C-section. The incident received widespread condemnation including from Police Complaints Authority director David West who chastised the police officer in question.

Yesterday Ramadhar recalled the country was aghast at the news and as a father he was grieved when he saw it. He said he spoke with Kalloo and decided to represent the family pro bono along with his junior Darius Emrith.

“Because it was far greater than just a ticket. To me it resonated with the loss of our soul as a nation. I grew up in a country that love and cared and nurtured but became cold and hard where the force of law was not used as a tool to help people but a weapon against the good.”

He represented the family at the Arima Magistrates Court and he successfully pursued the ancient but potent defence of necessity. He explained this is where in cases of danger to life and limb one can take actions to breach the law and be protected from any penalty. He reported the matter was dismissed and he was grateful for the opportunity to have served.

Kalloo said just two weeks ago she had a patient on her way in labour and was pulled aside and issued a ticket but then escorted to the hospital “in good sense.” She reported the baby was delivered within an hour if she had been sent off the PBR and on to the Eastern Main Road she would have delivered there. “Critical timing is important and nobody can decide that. It cannot be a decision an officer or a layman makes. This happened just recently so we need to do something about it so it does not happen to another patient.”

Kalloo said there was a two to three hour delay and when Laban-Ammon arrived she was upset, distraught and in tears. Kalloo recalled after about an hour of monitoring the baby was diagnosed with foetal distress and his heart rate started dropping. She said it was fortunate this happened while the mother was being monitored and not in transit. Kalloo said Laban-Ammon went through mental torture and a C-Section because of the incident.

Laban-Ammon in her brief remarks said she had wanted a normal delivery.

“God willing he is here and everything is okay now.”

She said she wanted an apology from the police officer but never got it.