Police have responded to an incident captured on video involving a local female News Reporter which occurred during the March 19 protest organized by the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC).
The video which went viral has ignited outrage among some members of the public as well as media representatives both locally, and abroad.
The video showed the reporter who was capturing footage in the vicinity of Fort Young Hotel being instructed by a senior police officer to leave that particular area. Many have argued that the behaviour from the officer is an attack on the media in Dominica.
However, Acting Commissioner of Police Lincoln Corbette has sought to clear the air regarding the incident while addressing a press conference on Friday.
“The police on the 19 of March cut off an area, their operating area…,” he said. “As I mentioned before we had barriers on High Street, we had barriers on Victoria Street by the playing field, and also by Fort Young Hotel. Look at the video properly, you will see where the reporter from Emo News sneaked in after the barriers were spaced.”
Corbette continued, “You can see where she sneaked in and I looked at it many times.”
He further explained that the reporter was simply asked to remove herself from the area where she was operating.
“Additionally, if you listen to the video by the reporter for Emo News she was making a lot of comments, a lot of comments that were inciting the crowd and inciting people,” Corbette remarked. “I listened to it.”
Reference was made to three other reporters representing DBS Radio who Corbette said were also asked to move.
“With no hesitation, they walked away and they were well within their work environment,” he explained.
He made it clear that the police can determine who remains within their operating area and who goes out.
“We decide who serves in our area,” he stated. “That is how it is, but it is not a question of attacking the press. I hope that really clarifies the issue of what happened on the day.”
Corbette also mentioned that the reporter was asked to leave the police operating area by many other officers, not only by officer Jeffrey James, “and she refused.”
