Minister of Education Patrick Faber is taking significant heat at the moment. The senior U.D.P. Member of Parliament has been accused of assaulting two women during a party at his home in Lord’s Bank Friday night. One of the women, an employee of the ministry who is allegedly involved in an intimate relationship with Minister Faber, told police that he choked her on his bed and then punched her twice in the face. According to the report, when a female friend of the victim attempted to intervene, she was also punched in the face. The complaint to the police was subsequently withdrawn, and Faber has told the media that as far as he is concerned, that means the matter is over and done with. The police department is following Faber’s lead and refuses to speak on the matter, saying that because the complaint was withdrawn, it does not exist. Well not surprising, the P.U.P. disagrees – and vehemently so. According to P.U.P. Senator, Lisa Shoman, Faber is an elected official, an Area Representative, a member of parliament and a minister of government and he owes the nation an explanation.
Lisa Shoman, Senator, People’s United Party
Lisa Shoman
“We believe that he owes a duty to the nation to explain what it was that happened in his home, and further for him to make a full statement to the Police about the incident, and we also believe that it is incumbent on the Police to interview all witnesses that were involved, and to make a full investigation of what occurred, notwithstanding the fact that the complainant has allegedly withdrawn the complaint that was made.”
Reporter
“What can you say in relation to the legality of that though, in terms of withdrawing a statement?”
Lisa Shoman
“Any complainant who makes a statement of course is entitled to withdraw the statement. However, I note with alarm and concern, as does the Party, that it was not the complainant who told the media or the nation that the complaint was withdrawn. That information came first from Patrick Faber himself, and then was confirmed by the Police. Therefore we do not know the circumstances of that withdrawal – when it occurred, how it occurred, why it occurred. There are many reasons why a complainant may withdraw a complaint or a report. That does not mean that it does not exist. For anyone to content that the report does not exist is the heights of utter folly, and it spits in the face of reality. The report existed, it was made, and it was withdrawn. What concerns me and the People’s United Party is that the Police don’t seem to be interested in investigating as to why it was withdrawn and what were the circumstances. Domestic violence, any kind of violence in fact, is all our business, and we should all be very concerned that the Police mount a full investigation.”
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