SXMElections.com

President Aline Hanson

~ Security for government officials thrown into question ~

 MARIGOT--President of the Territorial Council Aline Hanson was assaulted by a man brandishing a frying pan moments after she arrived for work at Hotel de la Collectivité Friday morning.

The bizarre incident occurred at 8:30am when the President, who was not with her usual driver, got out of the car and was chatting with a couple of women when the man suddenly appeared and started to inflict blows on her with the pan as she turned to close her car door. She defended herself and consequently sustained unspecified injuries to her arm and wrist.

The Communications Department later confirmed the President had received medical attention and was recovering. Her physical state was described as receiving “some haematomas to the hand.” She also has submitted a complaint at the Gendarmerie concerning the attack.

The assailant has been identified as Lino Hughes (67), a well-known veteran musician and songwriter. Hughes was restrained immediately by Territorial Police and other persons, and handed over to the Gendarmerie.

The Gendarmerie declined to give any more details other than that Hughes was being held in custody.

The elected officials of majority group RRR issued a brief statement denouncing the attack.

“The group of elected councillors of the majority party deplores the violent attack on President Aline Hanson this morning in front of Hotel de La Collectivité,” it stated. “The motive for this aggression notwithstanding, it is not with violence that we will solve all the problems we are confronted with on our island. The group gives its full support to the President.”

An official press release from the Collectivité stated, “Intervention by the Territorial Police stopped the violent and sudden attack. The Gendarmerie and Territorial Police acted efficiently. The investigation will examine the exact circumstance of the attack as well as the motive for the attack.”

The staff of the Collectivité also issued a statement condemning the “odious and despicable attack.”

“Ideas and opinions can be expressed through vigorous debate and people will take up personal or political positions to get their point across, but nothing justifies a physical attack on an elected official,” they said. “This attack is contrary to the French Republic values of ‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.’ It is simply an act of gratuitous violence. We, the personnel of the Collectivité, stand in unwavering solidarity with the President.”

Hughes, a resident of St. James, is known for writing the song “St. Martin is my Home.” During the 1970s and ’80s he performed with groups Lino and the Hardway and Creole Stars which he founded.

District Council Five President Paul Whit said Hughes was “troubled and depressed.”

“Obviously I condemn the incident, as this was not the act of a normal person,” he said. “But now the emphasis must be on security of our high-ranking government officials. This could not happen on the Dutch side with the protection they have for their Prime Minister. Our President needs to be protected and the Collectivité itself must have security and controls in place.”