43-hour ultimatum for Grange

Controversial entertainment figure Horus ‘LA’ Lewis says he is giving Culture Minister Olivia Grange 43 hours to apologise for reportedly assaulting him during an incident on Tuesday at Culture Yard in Trench Town, Kingston, when he was escorted from the premises where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were being hosted.

Lewis lodged an official report at the Trench Town Police Station.

“Babsy put her hand behind me and sink her claws hard inna mi flesh. The finger sink hard inna mi skin, but tru mi inna mi emperor garment, it never draw nuh blood. It just leave an imprint,” said Lewis, whose flamboyance has made him a magnet for discussion in entertainment circles.

“It hurt, man. Nuh like bawling pain, but like a pinch,” he added, noting that he had to seek medical attention and was issued a prescription.

Babsy is the culture minister’s nickname.

Calls and messages sent to Grange Thursday went unanswered up to press time.

The self-titled Seven Star General and Maroon emperor said he would not pursue the criminal charge if the minister apologises.

“Mi need a public apology or my legal team going take action,” he said.

When asked the significance of his 43-hour ultimatum, he said under Maroon law, 43 hours was the benchmark period for the demand for an apology or compliance.

“She fi remember to that my international legal team will be coming in because I am the Maroon Emperor of Nyankopogo Sovereign Maroon Global Tribal National Territory,” he further claimed.

Lewis’ Maroon credentials have never been verified.

In a video circulating on social media, Grange was seen cutting short a media interview with Lewis.

“LA, this is not your show. Come,” Grange is heard saying, while resting the palm of her right hand on his back.

Lewis acknowledged the minister but continued to speak.

Businessman and south St Andrew influencer George Phang was instructed by the minister to “deal with that”.

Lewis claimed that the incident caused him great shame.

“It wasn’t diplomatic of Babsy, for she broke all the protocols of diplomacy,” he said.

“Mi did feel ashamed and embarrassed and mi back did a hurt me and so mi lef’ and did a do an interview and two badmen come and tell mi to leave, so after mi done do the interview, mi just take me time and leave,” he said.

A copy of a purported medical report dated March 23 said Lewis suffered a bruise to the left scapula, or shoulder blade. The injuries were noted to be serious but not likely to be permanent.

Meanwhile, attorney-at-law Charles Ganga-Singh said that his client is taking the physical attack “very seriously”.

“The laws of Jamaica are applicable to any minister in the same manner as anyone else,” Ganga-Singh said.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com.