The Honourable Premier Dr. Ellis L Webster has called for the public to be patient while he waits for the results of the police investigation into an incident on the 23rd May that involved a Minister of Government and a member of the public.
In the regular Government Press Conference on Monday 5th June, 2023, the Premier urged patience in response to questions asked concerning an altercation involving the Honourable Minister of Sustainability, Innovation and the Environment Quincia Gumbs-Marie and a civilian at a popular restaurant.
Minister Gumbs-Marie had been involved in the altercation during which death threats and certain expletives were uttered by her. At least one video of the altercation has been making the rounds on social media recently.
There have been calls from some quarters for the Premier to take disciplinary action and remove her from her portfolio as Minister. There have also been calls for the Minister to step down from her position while the matter is investigated. While others have maintained that she should remain in her position and continue as Minister.
Minister Gumbs-Marie was present at the Monday afternoon Government Press Conference, where she reported on the work of her Ministry. At the end of her report, she informed the media that she would not be answering any questions relative to the incident that occurred on the 23rd May.
Seeing that it would have been the first time the media would have had access to the Government Ministers since the May 23rd incident, The Anguillian’s James Harrigan asked the Premier whether he had any information for the public, relative to the Minister’s presence at the Press Conference.
“Well, the Minister is here in her role as the Minister for Sustainability, Innovation and the Environment,” Dr. Webster replied. “As both she and I have stated, there is an investigation on-going by the Royal Anguilla Police Force [relative to the incident] and I have every confidence that the investigation will be carried out competently. I await the findings.”
Radio Anguilla’s Niamke Brooks then asked: “Sir, despite the investigation, her behaviour was obviously deplorable. Shouldn’t some form of punitive action still be taken with regard [to] the Minister?”
“As I said, there is an investigation on-going and when those findings are made available to me, we will act then…,” the Premier replied. “The words which the Minister used were regrettable and unfortunate, but we should all practice patience in this regard. The Minister has done great service to this country and I think that certain deference should be given.”
Meanwhile, journalist intern (with Radio Anguilla and the Anguillian Newspaper) Alexis Rogers, asked the Premier about the standards that should be upheld by Ministers of Government.
“The standards that we uphold are that we practice our service with integrity; that we don’t allow ourselves to be corrupted; and that we do the job that the people of Anguilla elected us to do,” he responded. “That job entails looking out for the wellbeing of our people.”
Asked by Ms. Rogers whether he thought the actions displayed by the Minister reflected those standards, the Premier answered: “As I said, the words used were regrettable, and certainly we will deal with it.”
No time frame has been identified as to when the criminal investigation will be completed.
