However revealing, MBC’s recent “harrowing” news story about the kidnapping of an individual the presenter referred to as “John Doe” was not without its confusing aspects, maybe because the item left important questions unanswered. For one, it seemed MBC went out of its way to protect the identity of the victim, a grown man who by his own account had spoken to the police prior to his televised interview. Certainly his identity was no secret to his alleged kidnappers. John or Jane Doe usually refers to persons unknown or anonymous.
Then there was the revelation that an unidentified “minister” was involved in the alleged abduction. It was unclear whether he was a minister of government or of a church. Moreover, the police had instructed the alleged kidnap victim not to tell anyone he had made a report. Evidently the MBC report also gave the police cause for pause, maybe because of the stories it had spawned all over the internet, to say nothing of the conclusions by the ubiquitous Facebook sleuths. At least one government minister was indentified in the mostly anonymous Facebook exchanges.
On Monday the police that had earlier been silent on the matter convened a press conference, ostensibly to clear the air, especially since several callers to the talk-radio programmes had commented on the police press officer’s nervousness as she read out details of the alleged kidnapping. There was also her statement that contradicted some of what the victim had claimed during his MBC interview.
According to the police, the victim had made a report at the Gros Islet police station the day following the July 14, 2019 kidnapping. In his interview with MBC the man complained that his report had been given scant police attention, an assertion that the police countered with their own version: “On Thursday
August 15th 2019, one individual was arrested and charged and a second was arrested
and charged on Friday, August 16th 2019.” The police identified the individuals as Jonas James and Franklin Rambally. Both were charged with kidnapping and, following court appearances, were released on bail in the sums of $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.
As for John Doe’s claim on TV that his girlfriend had identified a minister associated with the location where his captors had taken him, the police said on Monday that MBC’s source had never once mentioned a minister to them. “We can say that when the individual made the report, there was no mention of any untoward behaviour on the part of any minister of government or any parliamentary representative. What we can say now from his statement provided to the police, is that he never made mention of any member of parliament being involved in any way.”
Moreover: “There’s nothing suspect about the behaviour of the police officer” who had instructed him to keep to himself that he had reported his ordeal. Such disclosures, say the police, can be dangerous. “In any case, any responsible police officer would have advised that person to refrain from telling other persons that they’ve made a report. You don’t want to be in a situation where you further jeopardize your security, your safety, by telling too many persons that you’ve made a report to the police after having been allegedly kidnapped. Any responsible police officer would advise you to refrain from telling anybody of it. You don’t want a situation where you’ve made a report and because you’ve told too many persons your life is at further risk.”
They did not comment on the fact that the men charged with kidnapping had been released on bail, neither the possible repercussions. On Wednesday ACP Wayne Charlery congratulated his corporal’s handling of the press conference: “I found that she did a very good job. Fantastic! Because the matter was under investigation. Persons were charged and subsequently bailed for that offence.”
Questioned by reporters on Monday, MPs Lenard Montoute and Ezekiel Joseph readily admitted they operated farms, as is well known. Minister Stephenson King was also quick to say that he had “a kitchen garden”. He did not say whether it was large enough to produce his daily meals, let alone domestic animals. By reliable account no minister of government has yet been interviewed by the police!
