Broomes, bodyguard charged for discharging loaded firearm, assault

One day after former Junior Minister of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes and her bodyguard Dexter Austin assaulted two men and discharged a loaded firearm in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on Monday, the police have moved to institute charges against them.

Simona Broomes’s bodyguard running with gun in his hand

Broomes was reportedly charged for physically assaulting the men while her bodyguard was charged for discharging a loaded firearm.
Broomes claimed that she was threatened by two men who removed a “No Fishing” sign which she had erected on Government reserves, located opposite her Lot 103 Lockoo Street, Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown home.
This, however, led to an altercation and an exchange of words before the men entered their vehicle and left the scene.
The former Minister and her bodyguard reportedly went after the men.
According to Broomes, there was a high-speed chase but based on a video that was posted by the Minster herself, that was not the case.
As they followed the white motor car, Broomes was heard urging persons on the roadway to intercept the car.
However, the vehicle was finally intercepted in Sophia, where Broomes and some armed associates confronted the two men and assaulted them.
On Tuesday, Broomes and her bodyguard turned up at the police station in the company of their lawyer, Nigel Hughes. Whilst there, the bodyguard was taken into custody and his firearm was lodged. Broomes, on the other hand, was released on her own recognisance but will have to appear in court later in the week.

Simona Broomes

Attempts to contact her lawyer proved futile. This is not the first time the former Minister and her bodyguard have acted disorderly in the public.
Back in 2018, the duo stopped at the entrance of the Massy store to access the New Thriving Restaurant, which is housed in the upper flat of the building.
According to the guards, they did not recognise Broomes as a Government official but approached the vehicle she was travelling in when her driver attempted to park in the “no parking zone” on Massy’s tarmac.
The former Minister had claimed that even after identifying herself as a Government official, the men refused to allow her driver to park and in turn raised their shotguns at them. She had maintained that at the time, she was scared for her life and had not responded in an abusive manner.
This claim, however, was overturned when the CCTV footage surfaced, displaying Broomes, as well as her driver, becoming enraged upon being told that they could not park in the specific area. Broomes was seen stepping out of the vehicle and throwing the “No Parking” sign from the spot, before directing her driver to park there.
The two security guards were detained and released on their own recognisance after Broomes made a police report.