The Director of Public Prosecutions, Charles Leacock, has ordered that charges brought last December against two media workers in Barbados be dropped (related story). Photojournalists Jimmy Gittens and Cherie Pitt were arrested on December 20 while in pursuit of a story.

The media workers were at the time attempting to take photographs of a police constable on drugs charges when an altercation occurred with officers on duty at the compound of the Central Police Station in the capital.

Pitt, 30, a photographer with the Nation newspaper was subsequently charged with resisting and assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duties, while Gittens, 36, a freelance videographer with the state-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) was charged with obstructing an officer in the execution of his duties.

The duo had been released on bail, pending their return to court on May 11.

However, after reviewing the court file, the DPP has ordered that all charges against the two be dropped.

“I do hereby order that all criminal proceedings (against Pitt and Gittens) be discontinued,” said the DPP in his official communication on the matter dated March 5.

The media case had generated much public outcry and was met with a unified stance by local media workers backed up by their companies.

Pitt and Aimey’s arrest stirred outcry in the local blogosphere, with Global Voices covering the reactions for the world, translating blogs into every major world language. Police and press interaction has occasionally been antagonistic in Barbados, though recent dialogue between the BAJ and the Royal Barbados Police Force seems – for the time being – to show promise in improving relations.

Related articles:

1. “A democracy with caveats”: police aggression against journalists in Barbados

Antillean · Bridgetown, Barbados

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