This morning, we got a chance to speak via Zoom with Police Commissioner Chester Williams on the status of the police's investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse that Kayjah Burgess has formally made to the department.
The ComPol, who is out of the country on official business, told us this morning that contrary to OJ Elrington's views, the department is treating the sexual abuse allegations very seriously.
Here's his update on the investigation:
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"Mr. Elrington, again, is an attorney and I am sure that he knows that there are certain investigations that are done by the police that require the police to do more. As you would know, sexual offenses, particularly rape, is easy to allege, difficult to prove, and more difficult to disprove. You'll recall we had the matter recently with Ambassador Rosado. The Ambassador Rosado complaint or the complaint against him is similar to that, against Yearwood's brother. What we would normally do in situations like these, because of the nature of the complaint, and the length of time between the alleged act and the complaint certainly requires us to do more. We would normally put the file together, and send it to the Director of Public Prosecutions, because according to the complainant in this matter, just as it was in the case of Ambassador Rosado, it's over ten years ago. So, we have to put the file together and send it to the DPP, and then we'll be guided by the directives in the DPP's office. Again, it is because of the fact that it is not a recent matter, but rather over ten years ago, and we want to ensure that we are on good footing. Mr. Yearwood, Fitzroy, has absolutely nothing to do with that investigation, and it is being done or being conducted by a senior police officer. That's the level of priority we gave to the case. It's been invested by a senior police officer from the Domestic Violence Unit. So for Mr. Elrington to say that the police are doing nothing just to try and justify his action, I think, is very pathetic. I would say no more."
Daniel Ortiz
"What, in your mind as a trained attorney, and a person in the know, is a reasonable time to expect, or to wait for due process to take its course so that the police are being fair to both parties: the person being accused and the person doing the accusing?"
Chester Williams
"The young lady has been assured that we will put the file together and send it to the DPP. It was explained to her the reason why that will be done. I am not going to give a time frame because you and I know that the DPP is a very busy person. As a matter of fact, she's currently preparing for the Court of Appeal, so, she's extremely busy. In the Rosado case, we waited almost a year, but she took her time, and at the end of the day she made her decision. Then we are guided by."
Later on in the news, we'll tell you about ComPol's trip abroad - which has him away from his office for two weeks.
