BUSINESSMAN Adrian Scoon believes he is being targeted because of his mother's job. He is the son of Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, and is being investigated by police for allegedly breaching public health regulations when he hosted a Boxing Day brunch on his boat, Ocean Pelican.

"It is clear that I am being targeted by the media because of my mother’s profession. Had it not been for her role as a public servant, I truly do not think this event would have been under such scrutiny," Scoon said in a long statement posted on his Facebook page on Monday.

He continued, "As a family, we are well aware of the challenges and scrutiny that come with public life but this issue has become traumatising and debilitating for myself as well as my family and friends." He also said he had not received political favouritism, but rather, being at the centre of "this level of harassment, knowing the facts and then seeing what is actually being reported is shocking, scary and disheartening."

Especially scary were police actions, particularly on January 5, he said, after they searched his home and business place, when, he added time he "genuinely feared for my life during that peculiar ride in a police vehicle." He continued to insist he did nothing wrong. "I want to emphasise that I’m fully aware that we are in a pandemic and there is a balance between operating safely and earning a living responsibly."

I will continue to reasonably co-operate with the investigation until this matter is concluded. If I am to be charged, I will defend my case in a court of law. I will continue to strive as an entrepreneur and fulfil my dreams and goals of improving our tourism sector, which I am extremely passionate about."

Scoon said he chose to remain silent after police stopped the event on his vessel. However, he said he now chose to speak out to "give an honest perspective as to the extraordinary events that have unfolded and continue to unfold." He explained his business, the pleasure craft business, had been closed for two years because of the pandemic. "It is the only industry that has not been allowed to reopen, not even for a brief moment...During this two-year period, we received no financial aid or assistance from the Government and consequently, have lost all of our staff and our business."

Scoon said in November 2021, he wrote to the Prime Minister asking why bars were allowed to reopen, but pleasure craft were not. "I received no response."

He explained that the Ocean Pelican is "an outdoor venue and therefore, according to globally set guidelines, safer than a vast majority of enclosed bars that are operating around the country. "It was not classed as a “party boat,” but "a passenger vessel with the permission to operate at a max capacity of 250 persons. "Since 2019, we have held a valid special restaurant licence and while we have hosted many parties in the pre-covid era, we have also done many weddings, birthday celebrations, religious fundraisers and family days."

He said much like other businesses, t