Tourism and Investment Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire has sought to clarify his position following a viral video involving journalist Eldris Charles, stating that the matter is now under police review and will be addressed through the appropriate legal and political channels.
The incident unfolded on August 19th, ahead of a House of Assembly sitting, when Charles accused Dr. Hilaire of pushing her outside Parliament. Speaking to members of the media, Dr. Hilaire questioned the journalist’s presence within the chamber, suggesting her actions raised concerns about motive and procedure.
“The first thing we need to ask is… she wasn’t there interviewing the Prime Minister. She didn’t have a mic, she didn’t have a cameraman, but she was inside Parliament. So why was she inside Parliament?”
Dr. Hilaire further claimed that Charles’s actions were politically motivated, noting her attire on the day of the incident.
“She wore a protester’s shirt inside Parliament and openly expressed her intentions,” he said. “Even if you don’t believe you did something wrong, but somebody felt offended by what you said or how you acted, you apologize. If the young lady felt offended by anything I told her, I would have apologized. But she didn’t choose to do that. She instead made it a political issue.”
The Minister stressed that, given the sensitive nature of the situation and its political undertones, the matter will now be handled by the authorities rather than debated publicly.
