The operator of the Party Stand which was raided by police in the early hours of this morning has admitted there was a security lapse, but he is putting measures in place to avoid a repeat.
Chetwyn Stewart told Barbados TODAY female patrons may soon experience more diligent searches of their person if they expect to enter events.
This follows the discovery of weapons, illegal drugs and other contraband at the final event of the Summer Jam Sundays series at the Party Stand on Harbour Road, St Michael.
Members of the Royal Barbados Police Force’s Anti-Gun Unit, supported by officers from other police units, carried out a raid at the event attended by an estimated 900 patrons and discovered five handguns, a significant amount of illegal drugs, camouflage clothing, a ski mask and several pairs of scissors. Several people were detained in police custody, including a number of juveniles who attended the fete.
Illegal guns were among the weapons found.
Stewart explained that while he had hired adequate security for the event, the failure was not concentrating sufficiently on the females entering the venue.
“So when the police came and told me that they had intelligence that there were some people with weapons, we allowed them to search the venue because we thought we were fully secured. We had put out extra security and we did search shoes and stuff like . . . We put a lot of emphasis on searching the men with metal detectors,” he said.
Stewart stated that on the night there was only one female security officer to search the bags of women.
However, he said, going forward there would be changes, including using the metal detectors on females as well since that may have been how the illegal items got in.
“You have to appreciate that women are not going to feel comfortable, even if it is a woman touching you up or passing their hands over you, so we are going to have to bring metal detectors,” Stewart added as he noted that this was the first time in 11 events of Summer Jam Sundays that there was such an incident.
Police investigations are continuing.
kimberleycummins@barbadostoday.bb