Talk show host Christopher Hunte was detained at today’s “Anti-Chastanet” round the island motorcade. The event was scheduled to start at 11:00 am in Castries but the police told participants to go home. Speaking to the STAR, event organizer Richard Frederick said he was informed by the police that the activity amounted to a march under the Public Order Act, and therefore permission was needed.
Despite this, many individuals went on with the motorcade and left the capital for various constituencies. In Canaries Hunte was approached by an officer and was told: “…We’re going to take you to Custody Suites, you’re suspected of being a leader of a unlawful gathering or march. So you’re going to be detained.”
The talk show host attempted in vain to get the officer to answer why he was suspected of being a leader. Said Hunte: “So I am being detained because I am suspected of; how was that determined? What differentiates me from anybody else? I am wearing a shirt. I am driving a car. I am following multiple vehicles, so then my question is how does the charge arrive; how was I differentiated from anybody else?”
“That’s a question you can speak to your lawyer about,” the officer responded.
Said Hunte: “I’m in the middle of a number of cars. There are at least 60 to 100 cars in front of me by my count. I am not on a PA-system; I have shown, at another stop, my insurance; I have not broken any laws. So since I have not broken any laws, why would I be brought to Custody Suites?”
Following numerous attempts by Hunte and reporter Tresha Lionel to get answers, Hunte was pat down and taken away.
