Choking back tears in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court yesterday, building contractor Michael Alphonso Harris begged for mercy after admitting to assaulting and using threatening words towards Minister of Health and Wellness Senator Lisa Cummins.
Despite his emotional plea, Magistrate Jared Richards remanded the 56-year-old to Dodds Prison, with his sentencing scheduled for today.
Harris, of Seales Avenue, Goodland, St Michael, pleaded guilty to the charges which stemmed from an incident last Saturday at Terrific Tiles in Bank Hall, St Michael.
Aggressive tone
The court heard that Harris had been shopping for grout to complete a bathroom project at Springer Memorial Secondary School in time for the start of the new term when he encountered Cummins, who was shopping with her mother.
Prosecutor Sergeant Gazelda Knight detailed the altercation, stating that Harris approached Cummins and “accosted her in a loud, aggressive tone”.
“It’s people like you that things does happen to,” he allegedly told her.
According to the prosecution, Cummins responded with: “Excuse me?” but Harris, standing just three feet away, repeated the words while gesturing with his hands in her face. Fearing for her safety, the minister stepped back to avoid being struck, prompting store employees to intervene and ask Harris to leave.
The court heard that this was not an isolated incident.
Knight noted that Cummins has known Harris since 2022 and alleged that he had accosted her on four previous occasions.
While he pleaded guilty, Harris, who was arrested by police at Springer Memorial, offered a different account of the exchange. He told the magistrate his only words to the senator were: “God don’t sleep.” He explained that his outburst was borne of frustration over unanswered correspondence.
“The very last time I saw her was at a cocktail reception at the British High Commission and I tell her that I had written her several letters and she tell me she ignoring all of them,” Harris told the court. “So when I saw her on Saturday I just tell her God don’t sleep. She misinterpreted those words . . . .”
Harris acknowledged that he had spoken to Cummins in the past but insisted those instances were professional meetings held during his tenure as president of the Contractors and Artisans Association, and the Bridgetown Taxi Association.
“I never meant to harm Lisa Cummins. I had no intention of harming Miss Cummins. I beg for leniency,” he said.
He implored the court for compassion, revealing that he was undergoing medical procedures and was simply trying to secure work to pay his medical bills.
His attorney Richard Ellis, also argued for leniency, highlighting his client’s guilty plea, his lack of previous convictions, and the fact that he had thrown himself at the mercy of the court. Ellis submitted that probation or a fine would be appropriate punishments.
However, Magistrate Richards criticised Harris for his pattern of behaviour, noting the victim’s claims regarding the history of harassment since 2022.
Message
“This is not the first or second time he accosted this lady,” he said.
“You telling me that somebody who is in public office can’t walk around without being assaulted? One of the things that Barbados prides itself on is that the Prime Minister, senators, judges, can walk into any supermarket and shop freely.”
Questioning the wider implications of the offence, Magistrate Richards asked: “What you did here tells people that this is the way you treat people in public office. If I give you a slap on the wrist, what message is being sent?”
He then briefly left the Bench to review the penalties for the offences. Upon returning, he delivered his ruling: “I was looking at the penalties for these offences. I will remand you in custody until tomorrow [today].” (MB)
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