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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 9, 2020
Melissa Ifill raps Ruel over ‘pathetic statement’
…says trying to skillfully blame victims inexcusable HISTORIAN Dr Melissa Ifill has condemned former executive of The Citizens Initiative (TCI), Ruel Johnson, over a statement he issued regarding sexual violence claims by his exgirlfriends. Dr Ifill, in a letter, said she is disgusted that a “grown man who admitted a 'fling' with a child would then try to skillfully blame the child for his inexcusable, sickening predatory behaviour.” She said that she could not make it to read the entire statement Johnson issued on the matter. “I couldn't make it to the end. I was disgusted that a grown man who admitted a 'fling' with a child would then try to skillfully blame the child for his inexcusable, sickening predatory behaviour. No! You will not come out of this scandal with any assumed reputation intact! You sir are pathetic! Any grown man who can only find intellectual and sexual stimulation from a child is both pathetic and abusive! Your attempts to gloss over the abuse by 'blaming' your self-described 'intellect' and the victims' mental state are pathetic! More hilarious, in every statement you make, you exhibit all the classic symptoms of predators and abusers as Akola Thompson so well expected and
articulated,” Dr Ifill said. According to her the “fake contriteness while at the same time offering excuses for the sickening behaviour and blaming the victims, while painting these women as all unstable – is typical of abusers.” “It is my view that Ruel Johnson is a predator and an abuser and fortunately for him, his other victims are unwilling to come forward at this time and it is not my place to tell their stories of abuse but understand that your sickening conduct has long been well known. All the people congratulating this sick man for that pathetic
Johnson in his statement admitted to some of the accusations levelled against him by two of his former girlfriends but denies that he is guilty of physical abuse, statutory rape or grooming. He has admitted that he does have behavioural problems and will be seeking counselling for help. In light of the recent accusations, though The Citizen Initiative (TCI) has let go of Johnson as their Co-founder and Executive, it appears that he will keep his job at the Kaieteur News as he is now taking steps to meet with female staff individually at the media entity to ascertain
Ruel Johnson
statement are as much a part of the culture of rape, abuse, predation and misogyny as he is,” Dr Ifill wrote.
whether he has wronged them in any way. He said that since accusations were made
against him he was advised by his friends to remain silent but he has decided to respond in light of the public engagement on the issue. However, in his response, Johnson distanced himself from some of the remarks made by his ex-girlfriends, Youth Activist and Stabroek News Columnist, Akola Thompson, who broke the silence on the alleged abuse, and Sinah Kloss, a German woman who also accused the Sub-Editor of ill treatment. Johnson said that Thompson’s account of their relationship was “largely and deliberately fictitious” and was made up of information contradicted by public and private record. “Ms. Thompson has made very specific accusations of what amounts to allegations of criminal activity on my part. I invite her to press charges and believe that she should be given whatever genuine support she can in that regard. For the record, as much as I am against her false portrayal of events, I equally condemn any attempts to slander or shame her or any woman who comes forward with any story,” Johnson said. Regarding Kloss, he said that the woman’s account of her “burnout” phase due to studies and
Dr Melissa Ifill
a dying father was used to seek attention. While he admitted to her account of him spitting at her, he denied manipulation and physical conflict. Johnson said: “What she describes as ‘burnout’ was a phase, in finishing her PhD, in which, among other things, she threatened to throw herself from my balcony and make it appear as if I had pushed her, because I was not paying enough attention to her. What she describes as ‘spitting’ is a singular
incident in which, as I was lying down, she came over me, held my hands and screamed in my face that I should pay attention to her. Not wanting to physically remove her, yes, I spat at her, something I regretted doing the moment I did it. I ended the relationship after that. More than once, for the avoidance of conflict, I was forced to stay away from a place I frequented due to her turning up there.”
Sophia murder suspect No quarantine exemption shot dead by police for Guyanese entering UK
Murder suspect, (now deceased) Keron Mark Adams.
KERON Mark Adams who was wanted in relation to the murder of a Sophia man on Tuesday has died, following a confrontation with the police. According to information received, about 13:45h, police, acting on intelligence gathered, went to a location at Mocha, East Bank Demerara in search of Adams. It is reported that the suspect, on seeing the ranks,
whipped out a handgun and began shooting at the lawmen who returned fire and wounded him. The suspect died while receiving medical attention at the East Bank Demerara Public Hospital (Diamond). An unlicenced pistol was retrieved at the scene. The police had earlier on Wednesday morning, after ascertaining the full identity of Adams, issued a wanted bulletin for him prior to apprehending him. According to information received, Adams, following an altercation, shot dead 37-year-old Sophia resident, Andre Kenyatta. Reports indicate the altercation began when Kenyatta was asked by the reputed wife of Adams to remove his horse from an empty lot in front of her home, after which she started abusing him with expletives, and, subsequently, got the suspect involved. An argument ensued and the suspect pulled a gun and made threats to Kenyatta’s life. Following that altercation, Adams made good that threat and shot Kenyatta dead on Tuesday morning. The home belonging to Adams was completely destroyed by fire, on Tuesday evening, while he and his reputed wife were on the run.
GUYANESE arriving in the United Kingdom (UK) will still have to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement. The UK, in an updated report, announced that nationals of 12 Caribbean territories are among a list of 59 countries that are exempted from quarantine restrictions, effective July 10, 2020. Included among the 12 Caribbean countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia and Curacao. Of note, is that the United States, like Guyana, did not make the list. The report quoted UK's Prime Minister as saying, at a news briefing, "Instead of quarantining arrivals from the whole world, we will only quarantine arrivals from those countries where the virus is, sadly, not under control." Guyana has to date recorded a total of 284 coronavirus cases with 16 deaths. Health authorities, meanwhile, continue to plead with
citizens to adhere to the quarantine restrictions, in an effort to avoid a further spread. The new UK advisory that goes into effect on Friday, July 10, 2020 specifically states that, if passengers arriving from the 59 named countries or territories did not visit or stop in any other country or territory in the preceding days, they will not be required to self-isolate, on arrival in the UK. It is a requirement for both visitors and residents of the UK, that all passengers, before arriving in the country, complete a passenger locator form which is presented upon arrival. In the circumstances, persons are therefore asked to continue to monitor the UK gov’t’s website for travel advice. Also, they can check the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website for update information.
