Police Association: Constable Gittens should be granted bail

Police officers are not at all happy that their colleague Constable Everton Gittens is still on remand at Her Majesty’s Prisons Dodds in St. Philip on a murder charge, when other murder accused are being granted bail. 

 

Gittens was charged with the murder of Selwyn Knight in April last year.

 

Yesterday, President of the Barbados Police Association (BPA), Constable Mervin Grace, drew attention to the matter during the Association’s Annual General Meeting, held at Police Band Headquarters, Prince Cave Hall, District “A” Complex, Station Hill, St. Michael.

 

“The executive of the Barbados Police Association continues to meet with the [Police] Commissioner, discussing matters affecting members. However, there are some aspects of the organisation that are out of our ambit. These include the incarceration of our brother Everton Gittens, who remains remanded at Dodds Prisons since April 2015,” Constable Grace remarked.

 

“I wish to make it public that Constable Gittens has the full support of the Barbados Police Association. We are highly offended by his incarceration, especially in light of the fact that persons who are accused of murder in this country have been granted bail. Before committing other offences, they are given conditions and the same cannot be given for a respected, dedicated and competent member of the Royal Barbados Police Force,” he lamented.

 

“This state of affairs suggests that the people we protect and serve with our lives think very little of us and our contribution to the society. This situation is heart wrenching, frustrating and demoralising,” the BPA head added.

 

AG in favour of bail

Comments made by Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Adriel Brathwaite during his address at the AGM  suggested that he too is in favour of Constable Gittens being granted bail.

 

“I am glad you raised the issue of Constable Gittens. The fact is that murder accused are being granted bail in Barbados and I don’t want to appear to be insensitive to the family of the gentleman who allegedly was murdered by Constable Gittens, but I will say that if you for example can release on bail someone who names themselves “Lord Evil”, I see no reason why you cannot release Constable Gittens on bail,” the AG said to loud applause. 

 

(RSM)