Zambian Olympic athlete Charles Mulinga should pay his own medical bills.

Residents stopped by The Royal Gazette last week on the streets of Hamilton stressed this after learning that Mr. Mulinga may not have been the innocent victim of an assault.

Hours after being awarded his prizes last Sunday for winning International Race Weekend's 10-kilometre run, Mr. Mulinga was involved in a fight, outside of Odyssey Night Club on Front Street, which left him unconscious and hospitalised.

Initial rumours that Mr. Mulinga was pounced upon by a group of people quickly subsided as reports surfaced that he may have provoked the attack.

An Odyssey disc jockey, who was working that night, told The Royal Gazette the runner approached at least six women in the club and began feeling their behinds.

And other eyewitnesses claimed that Mr. Mulinga struck a woman outside the club after she rejected his advances.

It is believed the woman's male friend punched Mr. Mulinga in her defence and Mr. Mulinga lost his balance, fell and hit his head.

The athlete was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's Intensive Care Unit where he was treated for head injuries.

Last night he was in stable condition on a general ward and his medical expenses are believed to total about $1,000.

Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness' promise that Government would foot the hospital bill has aroused public outcry.

"Hell, no! We shouldn't pay,'' said Nigel Richardson yesterday. "He (Mr.

Mulinga) was invited. He came on his own recognisance.

"If he was injured in a race, we wouldn't pay.

"The country can't be expected to pay out for the actions of one citizen.'' And while Police are still investigating the matter and Mulinga has not pressed charges, many of the public have already made up their minds.

"What he did to that girl was wrong,'' said Marco Bowen. "He should lose his medal, lose his money. Any other person would have charges pressed against him.'' Margaret Ann O'Connor's outrage was clear.

"We should pay his bills? No, we do too much free stuff,'' she stressed. "If he was fresh with your wife, would you want that? "I'm not saying that the violence is right, but we shouldn't pay his bills.'' "He's in Bermuda and not Africa: no means no,'' added Antoinette Simmons.

Others were less certain of Mr. Mulinga's culpability.

"We should pay only if it wasn't his fault,'' stressed Tillman Darrell. "If it was, he should pay.'' Myron Smith agreed: "If he's not at fault, I don't have a problem.'' "If he's partially at fault, then he should pay partially,'' suggested Lavita Williams.

Nearly all respondents viewed Mr. Edness' offer as uninformed and premature, claiming that he should have "looked into the details first''.

Although opposed to Mr. Edness' hasty offer, Paul Dean was sympathetic.

"I don't think he had many options,'' Mr. Dean said. "I don't like it, but this kind of thing builds relations.'' "It was a good gesture,'' added Sutherland Madeiros, a prominent road running organiser. "But it shouldn't be a national issue.'' One woman was less forgiving.

"They feel embarrassed now,'' she said, "but it's never too late to withdraw an offer!'' Two international runners from New York, who did not want to be identified, added: "Minister Edness is assuming guilt on behalf of the whole Island.

"Mulinga didn't act properly in a foreign country. He should have been on his best behaviour and abide by the rules of the Country.'' Marco Bowen Graphic file name: MARCO Paul Dean Graphic file name: PAULDEAN Margaret O'Connor Graphic file name: MARGARET Nigel Richardson Graphic file name: NIGELRIC Lavita Williams Graphic file name: LAVITA