Graduate teacher, Adriana King, along with suspended prison officer Kenson King of Belmont and Park Hill respectively were finally informed of the police’s continued interest in the affairs mid-Sunday afternoon.
The two Kings, said to share some familial relationship, were taken into custody last Friday by separate police squads at different locations.
Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, one of the Kings’ lawyers, reported to Asbert News Network that both activists share 2 charges, each, which amount to being “minor Public Order Act offences.”
Bacchus-Baptiste further detailed: “that on July 29, 2021 at Kingstown did organize or was concerned in organizing a public procession without notifying the Commissioner of Police within 24 hours contrary to Section 5. 1 of the Public Order Act.
“He was charged with the same thing on August 5, 2021. Then they were charged that on the same two dates – that’s how you get 4 charges – at Kingstown, did knowingly take part in a public procession or meeting contrary to Section 5. 1 and 5. 2 of the Public Order Act.
“So, they are charged with the same charges.”
Both Kings have been increasingly anti-government’s policies in their social media-based presentations. The moment garnered from the regular broadcast apparently translated in on the ground protests especially since they are both active parties on protest day.
Adriana would broadcast elements of the protest in addition to her behind the scene roles while Kenson would habitually address the protesters.
Following a series of unanswered and unreturned phone calls from lawyer to police commissioner Colin John and Superintendent Clauston Francis – the head of the Criminal Investigation Department – Bacchus-Baptiste was able to secure a meeting with both senor officers on Saturday morning.
“They informed [us – Ronnia Durham-Balcombe and Israel Bruce] that the Kings were arrested because of the protests and that the police needed an interview with them. They were incoherent as to the exact nature of the inquiry.
“Despite the fact that they were told that they were arrested for ‘inciting’ no such offence was put to them. All questions related to protests and processions and permissions,” Bacchus-Baptiste said by way of update on Saturday afternoon.
Since the arrests, Bacchus-Baptiste said, “I don’t think [Kenson] was able to talk to his family. I had to try very hard to get Adriana to talk with her daughter and I’m still trying to contact the Commissioner of Police to get them out on bail – these are minor offences.
“He’s kept them there willfully until the very last minute. He could have charged them last night. He could have charged them the very day he took them up.
“He could have done like what he did to Ashelle Morgan and among them by just serving them with a summons and let them come to Court.
“There is one set of Laws for ULP people and another set for NDP people. Those were far more serious offences that were committed by Ashelle Morgan and Karim Nelson according to my client. And they were charged for them – they never spent a day behind bars; arrested.
“Even to go to Court they were not arrested. Just like how that was done for them, they could have done it for these two people and just let them come to Court. But no.
“They picked them up, drag them away from their children, keep them for two nights and then charged them – in fact Kenson was charged after the 48 hours expired – the maximum amount of time they could take up someone and detain them without a charge.
“So, they kept them for the maximum amount of time and waited until the 9th second to charge them. That does not make sense to me. Why didn’t they charge them last night or anytime yesterday so we could have tried to get bail for them?”
Bacchus-Baptiste also explained that her clients could be kept in custody until they are arraigned at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday or they could be granted station bail.
“I’ve messaged him (CoP John) about station bail about 3 or 4 times but he would not answer me.
“But I have to comment that it’s a completely different procedure for Ashelle and Karim than for these two persons who did nothing wrong but defend the public’s interest. Two different procedures. How could Vincentians be satisfied with that?
“Why should both of them be dragged away from their young children? Even if he thought an offence was committed, even if, they could have been given summons and brought to Court exactly like what they did with Ashelle and Karim,” the Kings’ lawyer also said.
If convicted, the Kings may face a combination of jail time and fines.
Both Kings were eventually granted station bail late on Sunday afternoon.
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