By Newsday Reporter Tuesday, April 24 2007

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Danah Alleyne...

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday called on the population to forgive 15-year-old Danah Alleyne who he believes was misled into participating in a lewd dance with American hip hop singer Akon at the Club Zen nightclub in Port-of-Spain on April 12. Manning said the matter must be investigated by the authorities and any necessary action be taken.

Video footage of Danah dancing on stage with the Senegalese-born artiste has been broadcasted on the Internet and the story has made international headlines. Speaking with reporters after a function in La Romaine, the Prime Minister said he saw video clips of that incident on television and was disturbed by what he saw. “I hope I never see it again in my life,” he said. Manning said he believes that Danah may have been misled and the authorities should investigate what happened at Club Zen on April 12.

This was in contrast to Junior National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds who on Saturday expressed outrage at the act. The minister condemned all involved, including Danah. Hinds said he will raise the matter when he closes debate on the Equal Opportunities Bill 2007 in the House of Representatives tomorrow and he believes that Akon should be charged for lewd dancing. Danah’s brother, former PNM candidate Ian Alleyne, who is president of the Trinidad and Tobago Crime Watch, has criticised Hinds for being unfair towards his sister. Danah has publicly apologised for the incident. Her father and head of Flaming Word Ministry in Chaguanas, Pastor Dave Alleyne, has also appealed to the public to forgive his daughter.

Manning said it was not for him to decide whether or not any charges should be laid in this matter but the authorities should investigate the matter to the fullest.

The Prime Minister said that the owners of nightclubs should not permit such acts in their premises and this was not the first time that foreign performers have overstepped their boundaries.

Education Minister Hazel Manning said she saw the video clips as well and was “saddened” by what she saw. She added that her ministry has received a request to provide counselling for Danah through the School Services Support Unit.