We've already showed you plenty form today's house sitting, but we close tonight with two sidebars. First, a story about our colleague Adele Ramos. She's the Assistant Editor of the Amandala newspaper but at today's house sitting, security cast her aside like some political supporter.
She told us that she was not allowed into the meeting with her purse…
Adele Ramos, Assistant Editor - Amandala newspaper
"When I got there I did like this so that the lady could search my bag and she said that I have to leave my bag and I said what? and she says that I have to leave my bag and so I step outside and I ask one of the other officers I said 'the lady says that I have to leave my bag, what kind is rule is that' he said that he don't know and so I went to the Press Office to find out what's going on because I have all my equipment in this bag, I have my personal belongings I have my purse with my money and everything that I need and the head of the Press Office Ms. Alissa says that she didn't know anything about it. Now she was trying to get me upstairs and they turn both of us back."
Jules Vasquez
"She was trying to get you upstairs through the other stairs?"
Adele Ramos, Assistant Editor - Amandala newspaper
"Right, the other steps that they usually used. They turn both of us back and they say that we can't do that. So she place call to the Minister of Police Doug Singh who told her that he check into it to get clearance for me to come in with my purse. In fact I got clearance eventually after the Prime Minister already gave his speech."
Jules Vasquez
"So you miss the news?"
Adele Ramos, Assistant Editor - Amandala newspaper
"I sat it out in the press office listening via intercom. That's not what I came here for. I came here to do my job and it was afterwards that Ms. Claudia escorted me upstairs and of course I was able to bring my bag. Like I say I don't understand the rules Jules."
Jules Vasquez
"You think that its sexual or professional discrimination?"
Adele Ramos, Assistant Editor - Amandala newspaper
"I wouldn't want to call in discrimination. I know that when it happens to me imagine another woman who needs her bag because she is carrying very personal stuff especially if she is going through her monthly time and how bad would that person feel. I just don't think about myself but what about some other woman who needs to bring her stuff inside and so in effect even inadvertently yes what they are doing is discriminating against women."
Ramos said she spoke to both Commissioner Jeffries and Minister Singh after the meeting and both did not know about the purse ban. But she says the clerk confirmed that there is such a standing rule….
