Hamid Awe Has Been Terminated
While with the Health and Wellness Minister, we also asked about his driver Hamid Awe, who over the weekend was captured on amateur video in a confrontation with police officers. Awe was not wearing a mask and was recorded threatening the officers with a call to his boss, Minister Chebat. Today, Chebat confirmed to News Five that Awe has since been terminated.
Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness
“It’s an unfortunate situation. As a member of cabinet and as a minister, I cannot support the behaviour, but as a father, I understand Mister Awe’s reaction. Mister Awe was reacting to what he felt was his son being brutalised by the police. And so I saw his anger, I saw his fear and so as a father, I understand why he reacted the way he reacted. However, as a citizen of this country, we must always remember that we have to respect the police and so unfortunate in all the circumstance.”
Duane Moody
“Sir is he still working with the ministry?”
Michel Chebat
“No, he is not working with the ministry at this time.”
Duane Moody
“So he was terminated?”
Michel Chebat
“He was terminated – a very drastic decision on my part. In retrospect, perhaps a suspension in light of all the circumstances. And so I think that I was very drastic in my reaction, but I wanted to send a message that regardless of the circumstance, we need to be calm and we need to be respectful to the police.”