Charges that the Royal Anguilla Police Force shutdown the Moonsplash event on Saturday night, March 29, were denied by Commissioner Keithly Benjamin when he met with the local media on Wednesday this week.

Commissioner of Police, Keithly Benjamin

Mr. Benjamin said that the untrue statements, as he put it, were made at the Dune Preserve, (the Moonsplash location) on the night in question and on Monday this week on the radio call-in programme – To The Point.

The Commissioner said that following an application from Bankie Banx, signed by Dr. Linda Banks, he and the Magistrate had given the Moonsplash operators a licence to operate between the hours of 8.00 p.m. and 3.00 a.m. He stated that this was despite an earlier representation by Olaide Banks, Moonsplash CEO that the shows would be completed by 2.00 a.m.

Mr. Benjamin reported that at 2.47 Sunday morning he was awoken by Olaide who informed him that they needed more time –up to 3.45 a.m. to finish due to technical difficulties and requested permission to exceed the 3.00 a.m. cut off time. The Commissioner said he permitted the promoters to continue until 4.00 a.m. and informed Inspector Paul Sinclair, the Officer-in-Charge on duty, about the extra time. The Inspector told the media that as the show drew to a close some musicians returned to the stage for an encore called by Dr. Banks requiring him to signal for the end of the performance by which time it was some minutes after 4 o’clock.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our attendance at Moonsplash is to ensure that the producers can continue to promote Moonsplash as not having an incident because of the effort we put into it,” Commissioner Banjamin said. “The verbal attacks and racial statements made against certain members of the Royal Anguilla Police Force are unwarranted because all of us, no matter our race or origin, are members of the Royal Anguilla Police Force trying, even in the face of adversity, to enforce the laws of Anguilla.

Mr. Benjamin went on: “In spite of what had been said about us we will continue to police Moonsplash. We have always accommodated the promoters and supported them in their endeavours irrespective of any inconvenience caused, because it is our view that the success of Moonsplash and the reputation of Anguilla require our support which we look forward to lending in 2009.”

Bankie Banx could not be reached for comment in the run-up to press time.

At the outset of his statement, Commissioner Benjamin reported that five persons were arrested for possession of drugs as lawmen policed the area. The persons, who will appear in court, were found with the drugs when their vehicles were stopped and searched on their way to Moonsplash.

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