By: Staff Writer
March 26, 2021
Leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) says that she feels that political “victimisation” led to her arrest after her party held a non-approved protest down town.
Arinthia Komolafe, leader of the DNA, speaking to reporters after her arrest outside of the police station after being released from custody said that she “absolutely” believes it was victimisation that led to her arrest after holding an un-approved protest and march to down town.
Ms Komolafe said: “Absolutely we have seen that and that has been the case. We have been intent on following the law. Many of you would have known that we had applied, for example, to host a motorcade and we were denied. At the same time members of the Free National Movement (FNM) were able to host a motorcade.”
She added: “We also understand the fact that even in movement throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, it is very challenging and it is very difficult and some of the leverage the prime minister has, other parties, particularly minority parties do not have. Soof course we see this as a coordinated attack on minority parties.”
Marvin Dames, minister for national security, speaking to reporters after the arrest of Ms Komolafe said that he “did not know” of her arrest in advance and that the police commissioner is an independent position that he does not have political control over.
Mr Dames also said that he had spoken to the commissioner of police and he was advised that the commissioner had asked Mr Komolafe and some of her candidates and party members to come in quietly to speak to him about their unapproved protest and march. However, the commissioner advised him that it was Ms Komolafe who decided to bring the media and notify them of what was happening when he was trying to keep the matter discreet and under the radar.
The protest in question happened on March 3, the same day the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union (BTCU) was holding their protest, for which the BTCU had approval.
Mr Dames said: “We understand that there is a distinction between political action and crime; no question of that. But, there may be instances, as has been showed elsewhere quite recently, where political action may cross a line. The appropriate agency to determine that is the police by a proper investigation.”
Mr Dames also said that not only did the DNA hold a non-approved protest, but they also tried to storm the parliament with the parliamentarians inside to the point where the police had to put up a human shield around them in order to stop them from advancing into the parliament. In the melee, some officers were assaulted and shoved aside.
Ms Komolafe told The Nassau Guardian that the DNA did not apply for a permit to demonstrate because “we did not have a protest”. She said the DNA had its flags and fliers day on March 3.
Apparently, the DNA’s march was holding up traffic as well, which caused the commissioner to act quicker than he normally would have, with the matter of a non-approved protest aside.