Barrow's bringing this up in the House of Representatives takes the matter from a case of social media scuttlebutt to a very public and serious issue. It's a story we have been following for over a week - and today we reached out to both Kayjah Burgess and her attorney - OJ Elrington for detail on how he got police to take her complaint - and the nature of that complaint. The suggestion had been that because the alleged perpetrator has a brother who is a senior officer - police did not want to take the complaint against this senior cops brother.
Elrington explained the process and the details of the complaint:
OJ Elrington, Attorney-at-law
"Miss Burgess tried to go and make a report and was denied by the Belize Police Department. Truth be told is that I use to be of the opinion that when people say these things, they went to go make a valid report and the police refuse to take the report. I use to look at it with a level of scepticism, but I have found in the last few months on multiple occasions that the police department refuses to either accept statements or further statements and this is something which is completely unacceptable. The police department has a singular role to accept the statements of persons and investigate whether or not there is any legitimacy to it, but they do not have the prerogative nor the right to determine whether or not they will accept a statement. It comes up in many different circumstances too numerous for me to list. But in the last few months I personally have witnessed them refuse even when I accompany persons to make further statements or to make statements, they refuse to accept the statements. This is something which is completely unacceptable and something which needs immediate correction."
And, Kayajah Burgess - was also courageous enough to speak publicly about her abuse - which she claims happened for years starting in high school. Here is some of her story:
Kayjah Burgess, Alledged Victim of Sexual Abuse
"It started when I was going to High school that was Edward P. Yorke, that is when it first started, I trusted this man because my mom had him around so my mom having him around meant that she trusted him so I should have trusted him well that is what I felt but throughout the year's everything that this man did to me he caused me depression and anxiety, this man."
"It started just by a little rub on the leg and from there this man went off and I have been telling my mom this for years it's something that my mom knows this for years but she just turned a blind eye to it, this is something that my mom knows my mom has known this."
"It happened when my mom was out and she wasn't at home. I was at home with my younger siblings but I was the oldest one at the time. because my sister the oldest wasn't at home with us."
"I feel like I'm not getting the justice that I should get because first of all I went to the police station and told them that I wanted to make a report on Keith they turned it down they said that I need enough evidence and that I can't make a report without evidence you understand and I was like ok because I didn't know that they have to take all reports that were made and that I couldn't make this report I didn't know. So I told one of my aunt and I guess Ms. Erlisse also reached out to Mr. Williams and I thank Mr Williams because Mr. Williams called me and he said please go down to the station and make your report. He wasn't sure why they told me that I couldn't make my report that is wrong, so I thank Mr. Williams for that so the report was made because of Mr Williams."
"To be honest this is something that I'm not comfortable talking about, I'm not comfortable talking about it this is something that I've been telling my grandmother, about, my grandmother knows about it and my mom, I've mentioned it a few times in front of my family members you know this is something that I'm still not comfortable saying and the fact that because of who this man is and people are still backing up this man I think it's wrong....I feel like this is something that if they don't put a stop to it this man will continue and continue doing it."
"I've come out. I made the post and to be honest I just made the post to warn mothers like, listen to your children no matter what, it doesn't matter if you think you have a troubled child or whatever, you listen to your pickni at all times because you never know what all is going through your child's mind and you know mothers should listen to their child."
The complaint was made two days ago and at this time no charges have been brought. We did reach out multiple times via phone and text to her alleged assailant with her specific allegations to hear his side of the story, but up to news time he had not responded.
