Dancing pasties teen: I did nothing wrong

Dancer Deborah Pena, 19, who goes by the name “Casper” in the entertainment world, said it was unfair that she became the target of a policewoman.

Pena, who wore pasties on her breasts, was handed a jersey ,which the officer took from a stranger, to wear after she was stopped. Following the incident, a video was uploaded on social media and has since gone viral. Pena said she did nothing wrong and was only behaving how some adults do on Carnival day.

The outspoken Pena told Newsday, “That’s double standard right there. There must not be an off and on button for those things. Police explained to me that because the J’ouvert is in Point Fortin, and is Borough Day and not the annual Carnival, a national festival, I had to cover myself.” Pena further said, “ But what I can’t understand, is that the behaviours were the same in Point. Children were among the spectators on the pavements just like on Carnival day watching nakedness on the streets and there was plenty. I was not the only one wearing pasties, other women had their breasts exposed.” Pena recalled what happened as she was dancing among thousands of revellers in the streets at about 7 am on J’ouvert . She said she was approached by two female officers about the way she was dressed. She questioned the officers about what she had done wrong and the situation was explained to her. Pena said: “A rasta man, on seeing what was taking place, took off his jersey and gave it to the officer who gave it me.” Pena said her manager (who was nearby) had her shirt, but the officer still insisted that she wore the man’s jersey.

She was told that it was not Carnival and although she covered her nipples with pasties, she had to wear “a piece of fabric.” She said: “I was not roughed up, I just got an attitude from one officer while the other explained to me the reason for their action