The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) has given sketchy details about a weekend incident in which the Prime Minister's Personal Security shot a man over a lover's quarrel in the Bocas area of St. Paul's.

In a brief release issued Tuesday, the police made mention of an incident involving "a member of the Personal Security Unit" without linking the officer to the Security detail assigned to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell.

A police spokesman later confirmed to this newspaper that the incident involved Police Constable Frederick "Balla" Noel and that the shooting incident occurred around 11.05 p.m. on Friday night. A second release issued by the police Wednesday announced that the officer under investigation "was suspended from his duties, with immediate effect" pending the outcome of a police investigation into the weekend shooting incident.

"Reports indicate that Constable Noel discharged his service revolver, and as a result, Arthur Noel a resident of San Souci in St. George's received a gunshot wound to his left elbow", the release said. "Acting Commissioner Mr. Winston James ordered the suspension on Tuesday afternoon (6th Sept. 05) and instructed that Noel immediately surrender his service revolver and all ammunition assigned to him", it added.

The 34-year old Arthur Noel has refused to speak to local reporters about the shooting incident. Noel is currently receiving treatment at the St. George's General Hospital for the injury. Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that Noel was driving a lady friend to Grand Anse when the woman received a telephone call allegedly from "Balla" who is said to be her lover.

A source said that the woman asked the driver to turn the vehicle around and take her back home due to a threat allegedly made by the caller on the other end of the cellular phone. "I understand that the person told her she better return home if she knew what good for her because he would shoot up she so and so", he remarked.
According to the source, the driver did as instructed and proceeded to drive the vehicle back to the woman's home.

He said the vehicle was experiencing problems in going up the steep hill to the woman's home when another vehicle driven by "Balla" pulled up. The source spoke of the P.M's Security Officer pointing a gun in the direction of Noel who was trying to start the car in order to try and reach closer to the woman's home.

He said a shot was fired from the weapon, which struck the driver on his hand. The injured man fled into some nearby bushes and the woman who was present also fled the scene. The source said that after the shooting incident, the PM's Security Officer drove out of the area.

The injured Noel then came out from the bushes, and then ran to the home of the woman to inform her relatives about what happened. He then got into the vehicle, started it and drove while bleeding from the gunshot wound to a house in Independence Avenue owned by a businessman. Noel's father is said to be an employee of the businessman.The businessman took the injured man to the hospital for treatment.

Barrister-at-law, Cajeton Hood has confirmed to this newspaper that he was retained by Noel to look after his interest in the shooting incident involving the PM's Security Officer. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police force is said to be investigating the shooting of Noel by "Balla".

Less than a year ago, Balla was engaged in another lovers quarrel which ended with a woman from the Balthazar area of St. Andrew's throwing boiling hot water on him. He spent several days at the St. George's General Hospital receiving treatment for burns to several parts of his body.

When he was released, Balla was transferred as a Member of Prime Minister Mitchell's security detail and assigned to the Special Services Unit (SSU) at Point Salines. Within months, he had worked his way back as a member of the PM's Personal Security outfit.

The controversial "Balla" said to have a history of incidents with other men over women. During the campaign leading up to the November 2003 general elections, the PM's Security Officer alleged attached a man who attended a public meeting of the ruling New National Party (NNP) and shouted out, "lie", "lie", at the address being delivered by a platform speaker. Balla is said to be a Mitchell loyalist and often boasts that he is prepared "to take a bullet for Dr. Mitchell".