By NEWSDAY REPORTER Wednesday, April 25 2007

CHAIRPERSON of the Police Service Commission Leela Ramdeen said Monday that there were police officers present at Club Zen during the raunchy stage display between teenager Danah Alleyne and Senegalese-born hip hop artiste Akon during his concert on April 12.

Ramdeen told a public meeting at Sangre Grande that while this action was taking place “ no one intervened.” She added, “It is only now when the public began airing their comments on the issue the police woke up and want to take action.” Ramdeen was speaking at a public consultation held by the Police Service Commission’s Monitoring and Evaluation Team at the auditorium of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.

But in an immediate response to the criticisms Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul said yesterday that “if there is any negligence on the part of the police, the necessary action will be taken.”

Paul, speaking through his public relations department, said he was in no position to determine the facts at this stage, but he added, “Investigations are on-going and at the end I will make an informed statement.”

The controversy continues over who is to be blamed for the behaviour of Alleyne, 15, who despite an age requirement, slipped through security and ended up on a stage dancing lewdly with the superstar Akon.

Alleyne is the daughter of Pastor Dave Alleyne of Flaming Word Ministry, and her borther Ian Alleyne is president of the Trinidad and Tobago Crime Watch Association.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Junior National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds have both said the circumstances of the incident must be investigated. Manning on Monday called on the public to forgive the teenager, while ACP (Crime) Gilbert Reyes had said the matter was being looked at to determine if anyone had broken the law.

Late last night, a fax sent by Zen Nighclub stated categorically that Zen’s door staff challenged Alleyne to show proof that she was 18 especially since she said she did not have her ID card with her.

The release added that the doormen were dealing with a large crowd and a judgment call was made by staffers based on Alleyne’s repeated insistence (that she was 18) and also by her outward appearance. She was allowed into the club but not to the VIP section.

Zen management stated that it was standing by the decision (although it was wrong) of the door staff to allow Alleyne into the nightclub. “We do not shy away from our responsibility in this matter and accept that we made an error in judgment on the night in question,” the release stated.

The release also stated that the club’s management apologised to Danah, her family and the public at large for the incident.

“We hope that with time, the embarrassment and pain caused by this incident will ease, especially for Danah,” the release stated.