On Friday we reported about an incident at the Michael Finnegan's market - when vendors and a few customers allegedly accused a female special constable for beating up a pregnant woman to the point where she had to be rushed to the KHMH.
Yesterday in a press release sent out by BAHA, it stated that the 33 year old Maria Garcia was not beaten, and that she had actually fallen and the incident did not happen inside the market.
So, that made it 3 sides to that story - the vendors, the customers and BAHA. Today there is a fourth side from councilor Willoughby - which kinda resembles the third side from BAHA.
He told us no pregnant woman was beaten in that market on Friday and the incident was all because of unaccustomed goods.
Phillip Willoughby, Councilor in charge of market
"As far as I was brief, that isn't true for the record. I believe the individual was taken to the customs department, interrogated by the representative from BAHA as such and she had an incident over there as far as we know."
Monica Bodden
"So nothing went on in this market?"
Phillip Willoughby, Councilor
"As far as I was brief, no."
Monica Bodden
"And they also mention, I think it was two other incidents with two young men probably like 10-13 years old that were beaten by this Special Constable as well."
Phillip Willoughby, Councilor
"I can't for the record state that they were beaten, but I understand that there is an issue with the fire crackers. Mischievous act within the market and if these individuals are repeatedly approached by the enforcement officer to say this is not the code of conduct within the market at some time you have to be a little strict with how you execute your duties and that was the end to that."
"To this end the Special Constables are law enforcement officers of the country regardless of where they are situated or located. If they are called upon to enforce any laws they have a legal obligation to do just that, regardless of what that is and they will assist any other government enforcement agency as long as they are available to do such."
"Now the matter of un-customs goods, illegal items and so forth, prohibited items, these officers have the right to enforce the law everything that is on the books that govern the country applies even to the Michael Finnegan market, and these Special Constables have the legal right and backing to enforce the law, whatever it is and it has to be within ambit of the law."
Monica Bodden
"Now tell us a little bit about the new rules, I guess they were issued, I think it was 13 rules if I am not mistaken?"
Phillip Willoughby, Councilor
"Yes, there were guide lines to say how they would operate. These frame works change from time to time, but at the end of the day, whatever is the laws that govern the land, it applies to the Michael Finnegan market likewise and if that has to be scripted in our bylaws to say, no running, no playing, no mischievous acts, then I have to come and we much do that to safeguard the vendors and who ever come and do their purchasing here at the market."
Monica Bodden
"Some of these vendors, they are saying that rules are too stern and some really don't make sense, like that one that says no shouting in the market, it's a market."
Phillip Willoughby, Councilor
"Well, in some instances we have to be flexible and we have to use our initiative to know and understand the nature and dynamics of people and I think given the circumstances of shouting, we must be fragile enough to have some sort of understanding to deal with that."
Today a letter was handed out to the vendors by the council asking for their cooperation that no contraband, prohibited or un-custom goods be sold at the Market - even if they might be tempted to do so with the upcoming Christmas season.
