Philipsburg: The editor and managing director of the TODAY Newspaper Hilbert Haar was arrested yesterday afternoon after he allegedly assaulted former journalist Lisa Mac Kay Brown.
In a statement to reporters last night, Brown said she went to the office of the TODAY newspaper to pick up her camera. Brown said she lone her camera to one of the reporters at the Today a week ago. Upon reaching the office, she asked for the former colleague and was directed to her desk. While in that office Brown said Haar approached her and poked his two fingers in her face telling her to get the hell out of his office.
She said she even told Haar why she was there. Brown said her husband was outside and someone told him that Haar was assaulting his wife and he rushed into the office to see what was taking place.
She said at point she turned her head and before she knew it Haar hit her blow on the side of her head. She said she immediately began feeling pains and had to be taken to the doctor where she was given an injection to relieve the pain.
"My husband got furious because he already warned Haar about hitting me. When he heard that the man punched me in my head he picked up a chair to go after him. But employees of the Today prevented him from hitting Haar back. Instead they called the police who responded and arrested her attacker."
SMN News understands that Brown a former employee of the Today Newspaper had run-ins with Haar in the past and he assaulted her back then. The journalist confirmed this the second time she was assaulted by Haar and each time she filed a police report, however, she has officially filed charges against Haar hoping that he would leave her alone in the future.
The former media worker said Haar had been using the Today Newspaper to slander her in the community. "On several occasions he wrote things about me and I even complained to Richard Gibson Jr. but he did nothing. Instead Gibson told me the man was writing his opinion of her and sugessted that she approached him and talk to him. Just last week Haar wrote an opinion on Brown when she covered the Laveist press conferrence but Gibson she said did not take actions.
At the police station last night were several reporters and camera men, trying to give support to Brown.Violence in any form should be condemned and it is in this line that journalists in St. Maarten condemn the incident that occurred on Wednesday at the Today newspaper. Our disgust is exacerbated by the fact that a male assaulted a female. This should not be allowed in any circumstance and practicing journalists distance themselves from the aggressive behavior that was exhibited on Wednesday.
We opt to let justice take its course in this matter and we also offer our support and solidarity to our female colleague.
It must be stressed that such behavior is NOT condoned. In fact we feel just the opposite especially since the majority of us enjoy a deep fraternal bond and also because we understand that violence is unacceptable especially when it involves a male striking a female.
Donellis Browne on behalf of the steering committee of The St. Maarten Media workers Association.
