On Saturday, June 6, St. Lucia News Online (SNO) accurately and ‘safely’ reported on a “massive” fight that broke out during the popular Gros Islet Street Party in the town of Gros Islet.
The event was put to a premature end as a result of the fight that involved bottle-throwing.
In a press statement by Gros Islet officials today, June 9, they claimed the media reports were inaccurate, but strangely confirmed the details of the news reports.
In SNO’s report, it was accurately stated that:
1. A fight broke out (confirmed by the Gros Islet Constituency Council Management Committee – GICCMC)
2. The event came to a halt (confirmed by the GICCMC)
3. Two persons were taken by police (confirmed by GICCMC)
4. At no time did SNO state or insinuate that, A. criminal activities and violence in Gros Islet or at the street party have increased or B. that the fight is related to a shooting incident previously.
5. In fact, the town’s mayor was the one who made a statement in connection with the Gros Islet Street Party and the shooting incident by telling reporters in published interviews, that the Gros Islet Street Party would continue despite the shooting incident. As such, any incident that would have occurred at the Street Party, after the shooting incident, would have made the news, especially at the fact that Friday’s brawl put an end to the party. In the past, fights took place without the party being called off.
What the GICCMC is refuting, and has used to paint an entire story as inaccurate:
1. That the fight was gang-related – SNO NEVER confirmed the incident was gang-related, neither did subsequent reports. The last line of the first story claimed, based on information from eyewitnesses and police sources that the fight “is ALLEGED” to have occurred between rival gangsters. Note the word ALLEGED. The media – regionally and internationally – uses this word ALL THE TIME to describe accounts from non-official sources to indicate that the information is not confirmed, but it was STATED. Does the GICCMC know what the word alleged means? Yes, they do.
2. Police response – An eyewitness ALLEGED that the police intervened 10-15 minutes AFTER – note the words ALLEGED and AFTER, AFTER AFTER – the fight. However the GICCMC claimed the incident “was immediately contained” – “despite reports to the contrary”. Numerous persons who were present can relate that during the fight and bottle throwing, the police was not IMMEDIATELY present in the CENTRE of it fight. The police intervened AFTER the fight as it related to NABBING the suspected individuals. In such a massive crowd, it would be difficult for the lawmen to arrest (while the fight in progress) because bottles were being thrown from either sides of the large crowd. It was after the incident that the police, after investigations, were able to nab two suspects. And based on reports received, other persons may have been involved. Was the police officers trying to arrest people while the fight was going on? Or did they rush to the scene when they persons running for cover? SNO was never specific.
What is factual as well?
It is nothing new. It is a KNOWN fact that there have been numerous incidents of fights and wounding incidents at the Street Party. It may not have occurred every week, but there have been numerous incidents of fights so ever often, at least once a month. In fact, SNO has a video of the incident related to last Friday.
Below is SNO’s initial report on the incident, followed by the save-face press release by the GICCMC, which could be termed misleading.
Fight disrupts Gros Islet Street Party: The Friday Gros Islet Street Party came to a halt Saturday morning around 1:20 after a “massive fight” broke out. There were no immediate reports of injuries. One eyewitness alleged that police intervened about 10 to 15 minutes after the fight began. “The crowd just spread opened… bottles were flying all over, but then the police intervened,” an eyewitness told St. Lucia News Online. Another eyewitness said: “It was a massive fight, bottles were being thrown and people ran for cover, including tourists.” Eyewitnesses reported seeing at least two males in the custody of the police, but it is not clear if they were held in connection with the brawl. It is alleged that the fight occurred between rival gangsters. – See more at: http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/fight-disrupts-gros-islet-street-party/#sthash.3BlU9Rfh.dpuf
GICCMC press release:
The Gros Islet Street Party is a staple of St. Lucian life and has come to be the preferred way to end the work week. It has successfully integrated tourists and locals in its weekly jubilation and features high on our “must do” lists when visiting Fair Helen.
The Gros Islet Constituency Council has set up a Management Committee for the event in collaboration with the SLHTA, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Gros Islet Vendors Association and other Stakeholders. This Committee is tasked with improving Safety and Security, Mass Crowd Event Guideline Compliance and the Development and Sustainability of the event.
In that regard, the Committee has been working assiduously to implement national and international standards to improve the weekly event which is now in its 30th year. It is most disheartening that this ordinarily uneventful party has recently been plagued by reports of criminal activity. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has demonstrated its support for the Gros Islet Street Party over the years by deploying additional personnel to ensure the safety of all patrons; and has continued to serve the community with distinction. Following inaccurate reports of a second gang related incident on Saturday 6th June, 2015, the Street Party Management Committee held an emergency meeting to address this alien, damaging crisis.
Despite reports to the contrary, the incident which was immediately contained by the police on the scene, involved only two individuals who were immediately detained. The decision of the Sargent on duty to terminate the event early was both prudent and consistent with her obligations to crowd safety.
The Street Party Management Committee recognizes that the weekly anticipated event does not simply belong to the people of Gros Islet but it is also an event of national importance, as a key component of our tourism product. It is imperative that reports which have a damaging effect on our major income earner be verified before publication and circulation.