“You will end up like Dana Seetahal.”This was the unnerving message former CNMG employee Eve George received after being dismissed from the state-run media company when she rejected the sexual advances of a senior official there. Now, the 30-year-old says she has had to go into hiding after the threat and is living in fear because the perpetrators do not want her to expose them.
“I have to live on the run and constantly look over my shoulder,” George told the T&T Guardian. “They sent a threat for me because I was exposing what they are doing and standing up for what is right. A man walked up to me and told me to my face ‘I will end up like Dana Seetahal’.”
Seetahal, a leading prosecutor and former independent senator, was shot dead on May 4 after leaving a casino in Woodbrook on her way to her One Woodbrook apartment. George said a man she knew met her in Maraval and warned her about talking about the alleged sexual advances while she was employed with CNMG’s Talk City 91.1FM. “He came up to me and said that to my face. I was afraid. I did not expect that. I had already left CNMG,” she said.
The terrified George said her fear was further compounded when someone broke into her Westmoorings apartment shortly after the threat was made.
“I have entered a safe house for my protection since the threat two Saturdays ago. I had to leave my apartment. I cannot go out alone. I have to get protection,” she said. George said she had been working at CNMG for just under a month when she was summarily dismissed after she complained about the harassment. She said the man who made sexual advances towards her remains employed with CNMG.
CNC3, on Tuesday night, highlighted George’s story. She said since that story she has been receiving a number of phone calls from people offering her support and urging her to be strong. She said her attorney Keith Scotland was in the process of taking legal action on her behalf.
Bharath: Investigation has been launched
Communication Minister Vasant Bharath says an investigation has been launched into George’s claim and her alleged unlawful dismissal. Bharath, speaking with the T&T Guardian in a brief telephone interview, said, “That matter was brought to my attention yesterday (Wednesday) and it is being fully investigated at the moment.” The line minister for CNMG said he did not have any of the details on the incident involving George or her claims of death threats.
“I am aware that it is being fully investigated. I cannot comment until I am able to have the facts of the matter before me. It will be extremely difficult for me to give an opinion on the matter,” he said. Bharath, when pressed about allegations that George’s alleged harasser remains at CNMG, said, “I have asked the management about it when it came to my attention and they are investigating it. I should have a full report on it soon.”
CEO: Wild allegations
CNMG CEO Ken Ali has denied that George was employed with the company, although she had a CNMG ID/media badge to prove she was employed with the company. “This is a matter that has been playing out for a number of weeks now,” Ali said. “This person was never an employee of CNMG. I have been saying that many times. She was never an employee. I am not aware that she had a badge.”
Ali said George worked with a team that made a programme called The Ground Report and that group was not aligned with CNMG, but a private group, though he confirmed the team was still working with CNMG. “We have sold some radio time to a group on CNMG and for a short time, she was with that group. “That group had nothing to do with CNMG. We had brokered time with that group and they bring in their employees,” Ali said.
Asked about the allegations George raised, Ali said: “We do not know that anybody has been convicted of anything. We do not know if anyone has been charged with anything. People have made wild allegations and I do not know if anybody has been charged with anything.”
George, who made a formal report of the sexual harassment at the St Clair Police Station on October 16, said witnesses had been interviewed and statements taken about the incident, which was being investigated by PC D’Heureux.