Paul “Chicken Dread” Ferguson Detained by Police at End of Protest

The teachers’ appearance on Independence Hill was peaceful and without trouble, but what happened after its conclusion wasn’t. Belize City vendor and noted P.U.P. supporter Paul “Chicken Dread” Ferguson decided to speak his mind about the issues of the day, and had much to say about the current administration. But his remarks rubbed some police officers the wrong way. He wound up being carted off into the Belmopan Police Station by a combination of burly Special Patrol and regular police officers. Not surprisingly, he emerged approximately ten minutes later without charges and to a hero’s welcome. News Five caught up with Ferguson afterward and he told us that he was simply exercising his right to freedom of speech.

Paul Ferguson, Detained by Police

“I just mih deh voice mi opinion, freedom of speech. I was saying what I believe mi deh pan mi mind and weh I feel the people dehn mi need fi hear. Two officers just come and say that I have to move and I have to move from here. I asked them for what? And they claim say I di incite, but dah noh incite.”

Reporter

“You don’t think you did anything wrong?”

Paul Ferguson

Paul Ferguson

“Come on man, dah demonstration mi bredda. It’s demonstration and we were demonstrating. Belizeans have to understand that enough is enough…we tired mi bredda. I applaud the teachers coming out here and demonstrate, but there is no such thing as peaceful demonstration. There is no such thing as justice; it is just us. Look at all the things that’s going on…look at it. They try move me because I stand up for what I believe ina.”

Reporter

“So what happened inside the police station? did they caution you?”

Paul Ferguson

“No, they were very professional when I got in there. I enjoyed the AC; I asked to use the bathroom. My two lawyers come and asked the inspector what was going on. He was very disrespectful and I talk to him back in a disrespectful manner too. And they just told me to go and I walked out of the station.”

Reporter

“So you won’t face any charges?”

Paul Ferguson

“No what kinda charges? Charges for what?”

Inside the police station, Ferguson was represented by Kareem Musa and Bryan Neal. Neal explained to us that police could not find a charge that would stick against Ferguson, as he had not threatened, directly insulted or used obscene language against anyone.