By Derek Achong
Saturday, May 14, 2016 – guardian.co.tt
Public Services Association (PSA) president Watson Duke may have to relinquish his duties if he is eventually charged by police in relation to an allegation of rape made against him by a lawyer attached to the union this week.
Duke, who was held by police after surrendering for questioning on Thursday, remained detained in a cell at the Central Police Station, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, up to late yesterday.
Police sources close to the investigation said detectives at the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had already interrogated Duke on the allegations and are expected to approach the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later today to determine if he should be charged. Duke will remain in police custody until this determination is made.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, former PSA general secretary Nixon Callender explained that in the event Duke is charged, the union’s general council and the management of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), where Duke was employed before becoming the union’s leader, would have to determine if he should be suspended.
Callender, who himself was not suspended after he was charged with assaulting a group of colleagues during a fracas at the PSA headquarters several years ago, noted that even if the general council voted to allow Duke to continue his duties, WASA’s decision may still force him to relinquish his role.
“If the officer in WASA is suspended from work all privileges are revoked, including the full time off for trade union business. Therefore, the PSA would have to release him because he would no longer be able to carry out the duties of a full-time officer,” Callender said.
According to police reports, the victim, a 33-year-old attorney from Central Trinidad, claimed the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, after Duke invited her to accompany him to a meeting at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain.
Duke and the victim went to a room at the hotel, where she alleged he overpowered her and had sex with her against her will. After the incident, the victim allegedly returned with Duke to the union’s office and then went home. Hours later she reported the incident to the Cunupia Police Station.
Speaking on Wednesday, Duke denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was being framed by the victim.
ASP Ajith Persad of the Port-of-Spain CID is leading the investigation.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-05-13/duke%E2%80%99s-psa-post-may-be-trouble
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KiIP_KDQmXs In the famous words of former President Clinton….watch the video, Dukie must be allowed due process. The woman accusing him is a lawyer, so this ain’t going anywhere anytime soon. I am sure she understands all the salient points of the law.
This is this problem with black people. some are plain suckups. Some fight their battles relentlessly. But we know too well the white world has pushed back so much on us and it is sad that as courageous as he is he has to fall like this. This is really mercy year. Frustration after frustration brings this kind of failure. His predecessor is just a suckup as McLeod. The unions since Weeks are made up presently of leaders who are simply failures. The OWTU leader is now lost in the courts with huge bills. So much for the IRA, government’s continued failure over the years on this legislation and the many exploiters in our society. Nevertheless this has reached a point where with Duke these are very serious allegations against him and although it is early days and yes the jury is not yet convened but the dots are there. This individual craved change in a region of endless corruption and in a country where most non white persons are third or fourth class citizens from birth. The few non whites that reach up are eventually pushed back down….re Brian Lara, Russel Latapy, Dwight Yorke …where are they today. But the whites and so called white (Roger Gibbon, Wendell Motley, Miss Nunez mister and others) reached right up the ladder. All ah we come into this world with genes (tendencies like Crosby has) some good some not so good that we as human beings need to manage. Duke is no different to anybody else. Perhaps the lady set him up for a fee as I am sure Duke created many white or white leaning enemies. But we will see in time to come what the truth is.
Welcome back jerry….i see you’re following up on your female hating antics as you also blamed the late japanese tourist Ms. Nagakiya for her own demise….wi5hout any evidence or even solid speculation from investigators you are floating the idea that the alleged victim was paid to set up duke???? Is he your friend? Or are you a unc hack as duke is??? Either way your diatribe is disgusting!! BUTTTTTTTTTT sice you are on this road…i’ll say this….do some research on the psychological profile/makeup of a typical rapist….rape is ultimately a sexual tool to garnish the ego…it is about power!!…so much so that some strategists advise women (i reject this as a strategy) that when in a rape situation, if you know that you cannot escape….do not resist. ..relax as much as possible during the ordeal…..the idea is to deprive the lion (rapist) of the pleasure he ultimately seeks from it…i.e. to force his will unto yours…. (victim)…the rapist expects and enjoys “the fight” and resistance…he enjoys being able to batter through whatever defense you attempt and forcefully submit you…..mback to my original point….a rapist is typically arrogant, egotistical etc…always expects to have his own way and CANNOT accept “no” or rejection!!!…Now, jerry…..compare those traits i described, to ANYONE accused of rape!!…it isn’t “proof” that someone is a rapist but it does say that they contain at least most or some of the “pre-requisites” to the ability to do the deed.
Jerry…as is said to you during the topic of Ms. Nagakiya….based on your comments/mindset….the name “Hussein” really suits you…WELL!
Alyssa…If you read between the lines but I know you are incapable nevertheless the reason why Ms. Nagakiya died was because she made the wrong decisions as to the safety of her life, given the state of Carnival as we know it today. On the other hand, Duke is a public figure and has worked hard to remove the scum of our unions today (namely the PSA and OWTU) in T&T and while the evidence is not before my eyes I will bet this young lady knew her game well. But you are entitled to your sicko opinion that has bias all over it. I would suggest you also take the chip off your shoulder and get real.
Very good commentary Jerry. Every time the black man takes a step higher, there is always those who will try to bring him down. But, in this case, it might just be that Watson Duke may have allowed himself to be so conned (if that is the case). He has in the past publicly ‘played’ with those who had the ability to do him harm but what is yet to be made public is the identity of the ‘victim’ in this matter. If or when this becomes public it would shed a bright light on this matter. At this point all one can do (to be fair), is to speculate and to come to any conclusion would be unfair to him and the victim. Based on the news so far, he is more inclined to suffer as a result than get the necessary sympathy to be cleared of this crime. Like you, I wish him well and hope the victim’s story is credible.
Breds, You serious?
DUKE CHARGED*
PRESIDENT of the Public Services Association (PSA) Watson Duke is expected to appear before a Port of Spain magistrate this morning on five charges relating to an allegation of rape and indecent assault.
Once a person is charged they should step down until the matter is cleared. The reason for this is to ensure that the image of the union is not tarnished. The union represents the workers and that means that a level of trust must exist between the leader and workers.
A leader who has compromised himself by showing poor judgment must not be foisted upon
The membership. Rape is a very serious charge in Trinidad where the rapist can spend over 10 years in prison. The question is are there other victims of this union boss sexual over reach.
Duke natural response will be to not step down however the union members must insist he does until this matter is cleared.
Mamoo is this why your PP government cronies spent so much on lawyers that were your friends and family?