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Former mayor under fire for racist Facebook post

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THE FORMER mayor of Pembroke Dock, Cllr Peter Kraus, is under fire for a controversial Facebook posting on his personal social media account – two photographs comparing Black Lives Matters protesters as monkeys.

He has since deleted the controversial images, and today claimed they were posted online by a hacker.

Speaking to the Daily Mail today he said: “That’s a hacker. That’s nothing to do with me whatsoever. I’m getting friend requests all the time, and they double up – it’s that sort of thing.”

“I don’t know how I was hacked. All I know is I had a thing from the town council to say about this picture on there which I never even put on. That’s how it is.

“It must have been posted to my timeline because the town clerk phoned me and said “what the hell is going on?” I’ve got lots and lots and lots of friends who are, black, white, and you name it as well, all over the world.”

The town councillor added: “I was made aware yesterday. I don’t know when it was put on there,’ he said. ‘All of a sudden I had a phone call from the town clerk to say about this picture, so as I said, it’s totally out of my hands.

“The thing is, I do lots for the town, volunteer work for the town. And what it is, I don’t have time to go on the computer very often now.”

He told The Daily Mail that his voluntary work commitments meant he rarely found time to use his computer – despite having made 62 posts to his Facebook in the past two days.

Local Naomi Carolyn Chiffi, outraged, also shared the image and wrote on her facebook page: “Welcome to Pembroke Dock. Where your local town councillors, Peter Kraus and Paul Dowson are not only actively and openly racist, but find glee in their bigotry. This sickens me beyond belief. Who are these people and why are they in positions of power in our otherwise lovely county? They do not deserve one ounce of respect.”

Fellow town councillor Joshua Beynon, who had proposed a recent lighting of County Hall in support of the Black Lives Matter protest, said: “After the past week, I’m sad to see another derogatory post, this time one that compares black people to monkeys, it is the lowest of the low.

“While it seems that there is a lot of hatred and negativity around, this whole event has highlighted the urgent need to fight racism that is clearly evident in our county. I will continue to call it out when I see it.”

Cllr Kraus said: “The point I was making was that we are worse than animals, It is bad enough with this pandemic without all these crazy things that are going on everywhere, It was not meant as an insult to black people.

“We are all humans, I have lots of black friends in London and all over the world who I respect; I am a person who loves peace, that is why I started a charity Over the Rainbow Dream Come True in 1999. I absolutely hate all this violence that is going on.”

Cllr Paul Dowson denied he is a racist. He said: “So, County Hall will be bathed in purple light to show our support for Black Lives Matter.

“Why?

“We all agree that black lives matter. As do white lives.

“Are we supporting the actions of BLM protesters stoning police officers in the UK over something that took place in the USA?

“Are we supporting those activists who are putting our lives at risk by not [caring] about social distancing.

“Who is footing the bill for these purple lights and the power required to run them, particularly given that money is in short supply during this pandemic. It could be better spent propping up our key workers.

“Yes, black lives matter, we do not need to waste money floodlighting County Hall to say this. I do not support this crazy idea and will make my feelings known with those who gave it the go-ahead.”

“As a footnote… who is going to see this light show? We are in lockdown.”

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Shakespeare’s Globe presents Othello on the Torch Theatre Screen

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CELEBRATED by many, Othello has risen through the ranks of the Met police. But can his hard-won reputation, his marriage to his new wife Desdemona, and his own subconscious survive the toxic systems that surround him?  Answers to these questions can be discovered at the Torch Theatre on Tuesday 12 November as the critically-acclaimed Shakespeare’s Globe production of Othello is brought to the Torch Theatre cinema screen.

Sixteenth-century Venice becomes modern-day London’s Docklands, as the Moorish general Othello grapples with many of the same issues that successful Black people have faced for centuries.

Experience Shakespeare’s confronting look at the destructive impact of institutional racism, toxicmasculinity, and a justice system locked in a vicious cycle of self-fulfilling prophecy, set within a hostile modern police force.

In her review in the Guardian, Arifa Akbar awards the drama four stars.

She noted: “There is great musicality too, with songs and a score that is jazzy at times, foreboding at others. Ultimately, the concepts lead to a surfeit of ideas, pushing against each other. At over three hours, the tension drops, although the play never loses its potency and offers a genuinely new, exciting experience.”

Director Ola Ince debuted in the intimate, candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse with this ‘inspired’ (The Guardian), and ‘profound’ (Evening Standard) and ‘masterfully redefined’ (West End Best Friend) take on Shakespeare’s blistering tragedy.

Cinema audiences will also be treated to bonus content with a behind-the-scenes interviews and a Globe Theatre tour (during intermission).

Othello will be screened at the Torch Theatre on Tuesday 12 November at 7pm. Ticket prices: Full: £15.00. Concessions: £13.00 and U26: £8.50.To book your tickets or for further information, contact the Box Office on01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk.

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Large fire at Bramble Hall Farm – Arson suspected

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FIREFIGHTERS have brought a large blaze under control at Bramble Hall Farm in Pembroke Dock.

The fire broke out in a portacabin filled with tyres and scrap materials late on Tuesday night (Nov 5).

The alarm was raised at 11:34pm by the farm owner, who reported being woken by loud bangs.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock Fire Stations were dispatched to the scene.

Firefighters at Bramble Hall Farm (Image: Herald)

On arrival, firefighters found a shipping container with mixed scrap and around 100 tyres fully alight. The crews used four breathing apparatus sets, a ground monitor, a 45mm jet, two hose reel jets, and a water bowser to tackle the fire.

The blaze was fully extinguished by 5:07am on Wednesday morning (Nov 6), after crews worked through the night to contain the flames and dampen down remaining hotspots.

A local resident, Sean Burns, who was present at the scene, suspects the fire may have been started deliberately and has provided information to authorities, who are investigating the cause.

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Fire strikes popular Pembrokeshire pub – no staff or customers hurt

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A FIRE broke out at The Bristol Trader pub on Quay Street, Haverfordwest, today (Wednesday, Nov 6), impacting two floors and the roof space of the popular establishment.

Firefighters from Haverfordwest and Milford Haven stations responded to the scene at 11:38am, spending around two hours battling the blaze. Smoke was seen billowing from the building as Dyfed-Powys Police closed Quay Street, advising drivers to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews responded to a commercial fire in a two-storey building, measuring approximately 50m by 30m. The fire began on the first floor, spread to the second floor and roof space. Crews utilised eight breathing apparatus sets, four hose reel jets, one 45mm main jet, small gear, and a turntable ladder.”

Fire crews departed the scene at 1:58pm, and the police reopened Quay Street at 2:15pm.

No injuries were reported, and in a Facebook post, The Bristol Trader reassured customers that all staff members were safe.

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