By Tamara King, Staff ReporterACCORDING TO the police, there were plans afoot to kidnap popular and controversial television and radio talk show host Christine Hewitt recently.
Ms. Hewitt and the head of the Crime Management Unit, Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams, revealed the details of the kidnapping attempt and plot during an interview.
According to Senior Superintendent Adams, he uncovered the plot on Hewitt's life. He said that one Sunday night, a team of police officers tracked a group of men who were following Ms. Hewitt. Adams said that to date he has interviewed seven persons, four in the United States and three in Jamaica, about the matter. He said that one person admitted knowing of the plot.
Adams said he has advised Ms. Hewitt to place special emphasis on her personal safety and he hopes to soon bring closure to the matter.
Ms. Hewitt, known for her 'grassroots' and vivacious personality, is also the head of the 'A.F.R.I. Kallective' which deals with public relations and show promotion overseas.
According to Hewitt, about a month ago she began to feel that her safety was threatened. She thought that she was being followed, especially on Sunday nights after her weekly Man-talk television programme.
On the night Adams mentioned, Hewitt said she spoke of the kidnapping of Yvonne Beaumont-Walters on her television programme. She said on that night, as she went home she noticed a white car following her.
"At first I did not feel that I needed to report it to the police. But one particular night I was going home and when I came out through the gates of TVJ - this is about the same week of the Beaumont kidnapping - that same Sunday when I spoke of it. I noticed a white car was parked over the other hand," she said, reliving the moment.
Hewitt said that this did not arouse any suspicions since it was a regular thing for taxis or private vehicles to be parked there.
"I drove out and the car started to follow me. At first I did not think it was following me. It had about five males - some with their heads tied and decked out in dark glasses. I took a route to New Kingston. They were behind me. I drove pass the Asylum, I noticed the car came around, stopped a little bit from the Asylum. Then when I drove again it would start," she said.
Hewitt said that at this point she concluded that the car was following her. After out-running the car, Hewitt said she eventually turned around and ran them off the road. She said she went back to Kingston and checked into a hotel, where she stayed for awhile.
Sometime after the incident, Hewitt said she was contacted by Adams, who said he wanted to with meet her. She journeyed to his Elleston Road office where he told her he had uncovered a plot to kidnap and murder her.
So what now for Ms Hewitt?
"I am satisfied that that threat is no longer there on my life, based on steps that I have taken and steps the police have taken. In another two weeks I shall be travelling to the United States where I will be interviewed by the FBI regarding the matter, since persons who were trying to hatch this plot on me live in the US."
She said that the experience has changed her entire perception of and trust in humanity.
