Don’t be so ‘thin-skinned’

STACY MOORE

A SAN FERNANDO magistrate yesterday said while the police have a job to do in dealing with lawlessness in the country, they must not be ‘so sensitive’ to comments sometimes thrown at them by members of the public.

Senior Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine gave the advice when La Romaine resident Kern Cuffie was brought before her charged with disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest. Cuffie shouted at police who were on an anti-crime exercise in the area as to why they could not find something else to do.

He pleaded guilty to both charges laid by PC Sankar of the Marabella station. Court prosecutor Sgt Denzil Alexander said that on Tuesday at about 4.20 pm, PC Sankar was on a police exercise along George Street in La Romaine.

There were 15 officers on the exercise. Cuffie, the court heard, while standing on the road began to gesticulate with his hands.

He then shouted at the officers, “Why allyuh doh find something good to do?” PC Sankar approached Cuffie and told him he was behaving in a disorderly manner and placed him under arrest. Attorney Frank Gittens who represented Cuffie said his client is a father of two. He said his client resisted arrest as he was confused why he was being arrested.

Gittens said citizens have a right to freedom of speech. Magistrate Antoine said she understands that because of the crime situation, police should be left alone to do their work.

However, she pointed out that the accused man did not use obscene language and the police did not have to be so sensitive and could have ignored Cuffie.

The magistrate further questioned why the accused was not granted station bail. The prosecutor said the police may have looked at the accused man’s criminal record and made such a decision.

However Gittens said his client’s criminal record showed all his matters were dismissed.

The magistrate later reprimanded and discharged Cuffie on both charges.