GonsalvesKINGSTOWN, St Vincent, (CMC)
Dr Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, yesterday categorically denied raping a female policewoman, saying it was an attempt by his political adversaries "to damage me politically and to discredit me in the eyes of the people".
On Thursday, Woman Police Constable Michelle Andrews, 36, swore to a statement before Chief Magistrate Sonia Young, that on January 3, she was raped by Gonsalves at the prime minister's official residence.
"I categorically deny these allegations. They are false and malicious, I am wholly innocent of them," Gonsalves told a news conference where he was flanked by his wife Eloise, Cabinet ministers, and his legal team.
Commissioner's response
Gonsalves said that a letter concerning the matter dated January 26 had been sent to the commissioner of police by his accuser's lawyers and at the news conference quoted an excerpt from the commissioner's response.
"I regret to state that I have found the tone of your letter to be extremely negative, because you have practically accused me of having done nothing about the matter .... However, I had the matter investigated and those investigations did not reveal any evidence of wrongdoing by the Hon Prime Minister.
"As you and your colleagues are aware the police do not arrest or charge any person for an alleged criminal offence, unless the police are satisfied that there is enough creditable evidence to establish guilt," read the letter written by the police commissioner.
But the commissioner promised that if credible evidence is produced, "the police would carry out the duties which the law requires of us".
statement to the police
Gonsalves said that he has given a statement to the police on the matter, in which he denied the allegation.
He told reporters that the policewoman had been detailed as a Special Service Unit (SSU) officer at his official residence and that "at the material time on the day in question in her SSU uniform (she was) armed with an M-16 assault rifle in her hand".
Gonsalves said he was confident of defending "all the conspiracies and plots against me".
"I shall not give in to the politics of personal destruction which is enveloping this country, and this region," Gonsalves said, calling for the support of Vincentians, and vowing to continue his work schedule both at home and abroad.
