Good day.
I am compelled to bring to public attention the treatment of my mother—an older woman with medical conditions—at the St. John’s Police Station. This incident raises serious concerns about abuse of authority, lack of compassion, and disregard for basic human rights.
On the day in question, I received a phone call from Officer Quinland, who informed me that my mother was “locked up,” would be charged, and would not be released until Monday. When I asked on what grounds she was being charged, I was told that he could not say. He further stated that visiting hours were at 4:30 p.m.
The call ended at approximately 3:42 p.m. I proceeded to the St. John’s Police Station to seek clarity on the situation. Upon arrival, I attempted to explain my reason for being there to an officer. I was told to “speak up” because she could not hear me.
I calmly explained that I was unable to speak loudly due to a recent tooth extraction. Instead of showing understanding, the officer responded in a hostile manner, stating that “when you all walk into the station you all want people to be afraid,” and refused to make any effort to listen or assist. She further indicated that she would not help and suggested that someone else should come instead.
According to my mother’s statement, while in town, a plain clothes officer told her to come to the station. When she arrived at the station and was questioned by an officer, she was asked, “What did you do?”
She responded that she did not do anything, had not committed any offense, and stated that if she had committed an offense, she should be taken to court, as she did not understand why she was being held.
The officer responded by stating that she was “out of order” and that he was going to remand her.
My mother further recalled that another officer made the remark:
“Oh! Some of y’all just walk around and pretend like nothing is wrong with y’all.”
In response, my mother stated that the officer should not let power get to his head and he is old so the force will soon get rid of him. According to her, the officer then shouted,
“Lock them up!”
My mother also reported that a female Dominican officer was excessively aggressive and rude toward her throughout the encounter. She believes this behavior may have been influenced by a prior verbal dispute between that officer and a friend of hers, although this remains her personal belief and observation.
Most troubling is the fact that my mother—who depends on daily medication—was held for several hours in a filthy cell without access to her medication and without compassion. After several hours, she was released.
To date, not one officer, including the arresting officer, has been able to state why she was taken into custody or why she was detained. The arresting officer admitted that he was “only following instructions” and did not know what my mother allegedly did or why she was taken in.
When concerns were raised regarding her medical condition and the dangers of denying her medication, the response from officers was dismissive and alarming:
“She shouldn’t do things to get locked up.”
I do not understand why some police officers behave as though the law does not apply to them. The Antigua and Barbuda Police Force exists to protect and serve—not to intimidate, humiliate, or endanger citizens.
This matter calls for transparency, accountability, and a full investigation. No citizen should be detained without explanation, denied medication, or threatened for asserting their rights.
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Lawsuit ma’am. Run to the nearest lawyer fast…
This is extremely sad to hear.
With a new boss at the helm, one would expect the culture of the force to change. It would be expected to see proper transparency, better customer service & proper accountability.
Unfortunately this does not seem to be the case. I do hope that the Commissioner of the force realizes that when such reports are made it reflects bad at the top.
As the song writer said ” when the top slack then the slackness will trickle to the bottom.
The same concept also applies to SLBMC with no proper accountability for some patient’s complaints.
Are these new bosses like new wine in old bottles?
This is does not surprise me.
I personally have seen a Dominica police kicking a elderly man in public and right in front of everyone at the scene.
While kicking up the poor little man who clearly was intimidated and afraid to defend himself, you can here the police saying ” pay people their money when you borrow um”.
No one did a damn thing, because they alledged after the incident, that if anyone had intervened those police would take you up to the station under some false charge and beat the crap out of you.
So this is norm apparently in Antigua, because the others guys that stated this to me, were definitely afraid to get involved or even say anything to that cop.
I was on vacation by the way..so Imma hit, me as a tourist was there looking at this in disbelief.
Just a damn shame in this small island.
Enough is enough. They shot down Manny, Kaleel, and good knows who else and got away with it.
So I’m not surprised one bit by this BS.
They bring in all these workers from everywhere, including cops, only to abuse the citizens.
I’ll see how these Ghanaian nurses turn out, because it seems that everyone these politicians brings in to work, abuse that privilege.
I live in the states, and I better not violate anyone’s rights, because my arse will be thrown out lickety-spit.
Remember these are not sophisticated professionals with hospitality credentials etc…Many of them are not well educated especially the older ones and many of them have alot of personal issues the drag around….It’s sad but that is the reality….
GO and engaged the services of a LAWYER,now. The Police needs to be sued and name the Attorney General in the lawsuit.The bull chit has to stop now.In Antigua and Barbuda,no one is above the laws of the land,no one. Do not let this be swept under the rug.The Police shot a man in Grays Farm in his back.What has become of that matter? In Bolans,a Police shot a young man dead on his 18th Birthday.What has become of that matter? Do no let these things festered.Enough is enough.
I am tremendously sorry. And I am giving your mother the benefit of the doubt. I went to the St. John’s police station and even the police headquarters and I can promise you before God that a lot of the officers were tremendously rude. They behave that way because they are not properly managed and supervised and a lot of them are dunces. Can’t read or even write properly. It so insulting to have people with advance firearms training, legal training, police training and then having on incompetent officers to determine if you qualify for something you over qualify for that they are not adequately trained in. It sounds ridiculous but it is the truth.
Telling you to wait outside, telling you to sit and yelling at you like you are a cockroach. I witnessed it. I was a victim to it. But we deserve it, we picked the leaders who picked them.
You will vote the same next election, instead of demanding Antiguans abroad with advance degrees and high level of morality come and make a difference.
Do you genuinely think those people entering into politics with not even a million dollar in cash in their bank account is entering politics mainly or solely for your benefit, for our public benefit?
I can attest to this injustice and inhumane place and people that run it daily.
As a human you are to be treated innocent unit brought in front of a court to be judged. As soon as you walk into that place you are treated with disregard to health and basic human rights and are ignored by many that only see you as trash once you are out in that holding cell.
No one should be held anywhere where there is weeks old faeces, filling the toilets and shower with maggots to add to the newly made eco system of filth. No one should be breathing that air, it is toxic.
In result I fell sick after being released uncharged.
This only adds to the filthy town surrounding it.
The building now looks new but still the same old nasty people and nasty way of doing tax payers work.
Total Disgrace of a system. I am glad someone spoke up.
Go back to the same police station and make a report. Go to a lawyer and document the case.
Please tell me that you wrote down badge numbers.
@ My Way Of Helping…
As if the situation and circumstances will be different under another government. The problem didn’t just start with this government.
We need to stop politicizing everything in this country.
Open your eyes politics not politics, them jump and scurry when Gaston chat bout anything. This is what he need to talk about now.
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