Transgender woman Washington Bramble alleged Saturday that police damaged her back while dragging her during an unlawful arrest, leaving her dependent on painkillers and struggling to walk.

Bramble appealed for action on her complaints and demanded an effective mechanism to investigate allegations against police officers.

“Currently, I live on painkillers because your police damaged my back,” she told Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

Bramble alleged that the incident left her with a slipped disc. She said her efforts to obtain justice had gone unanswered and questioned what the government would do about her injury.

“I can’t walk properly because of your police,” she said. “I want to know what the government is going to do for me, for my damaged back.”

Bramble, who identified herself as a senior research officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, alleged that officers had visited her home more than 25 times during the administration’s 12 years in office.

She described herself as a law-abiding citizen and said she felt threatened by the people responsible for protecting her.

“I have been hounded and terrorized,” she said. “And my back has been damaged.”

Bramble said fear had affected her daily life, leaving her reluctant to go outside and apprehensive whenever her dog barked because she worried police might be approaching.

“I’m not afraid of the criminals. I’m afraid of the police,” she said.

Her call came during a programme that featured extensive discussion of the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. While welcoming the summit’s peaceful conclusion, Bramble argued that international recognition should not overshadow residents’ concerns about personal safety and access to justice.

“You’re talking about becoming a republic and getting rid of the king as our head of state,” she said, urging Browne to address the immediate needs of people who felt unsafe or unable to have their complaints heard.

“Some of us don’t have access to justice,” she said. “We’re not safe in our homes.”

Bramble also challenged the government to ensure that its international human rights commitments were reflected in its treatment of residents.

She referred to the Nadi Declaration, saying its commitments to access to justice and an independent judiciary stood in contrast to her experience.

“I personally, I do not have access to justice in Antigua and Barbuda,” she said.

Bramble argued that authorities needed a stronger system for handling allegations against officers, saying complaints could not be left without meaningful action.

“We need somebody with teeth that can deal with complaints against the police,” she said.

She distinguished intervention to address alleged police misconduct from interference in court proceedings, arguing that the government had a responsibility to respond when citizens reported abuse.

“If you see that police are terrorizing innocent citizens, law-abiding citizens like myself, it is your duty to become involved,” she said.

Bramble vowed to continue seeking redress.

“I will go to the end of the earth to get my justice,” she said.

During the call, Bramble did not identify the officers involved or provide the date of the alleged arrest. No medical records or complaint documents were presented during the broadcast, and her allegations were not independently established in the exchange.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Transgender woman alleges police damaged her back during arrest in Antigua and Barbuda.