Colin Williams: Director of Public Prosecution (S.V.G)
It truly hurts my heart, as a Caribbean man, that my confidence in my own people, to take principled stance on critical matters and do what is right because it is embedded within their consciences to so; do not exist. although it is true, every once in a while, men of integrity arises from the dust in the same manner that cream rises to the top; they rise and set examples by the life they live, they show us what is and how thing ought to be.
One of the reasons that can be attributed for the current state of disingenuousness that exist within our people is the repercussion of slavery. Our fore-parents have been subjected to a master for so long that they have subliminally and through other means, unwillingly taught countless generations these habits and attitudes that have led so many to sought out and make masters.
It seems like children of slaves need to always have someone to look up to, someone to please, someone they willingly make themselves subjected to: a modern day master. Hence the reason the Jamaican poet Bob Marley, in his poem titled: "Redemption Song", asked us to; "emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, not just our self (being) but free our minds."
It is for this reason, even after serious considering of national and regional pride; I can never support the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal for this jurisdiction. I also know the first appointees, to this institution will seek to set standards to make this institution a viable one; but it will soon deteriorate into a state of irreversible corruption; in the same manner in which the esteem office of the Director of Public Prosecution (D.P.P) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has fall.
In St. Vincent case, instead of the DPP trying to uphold the principles of his offices, or to serve the greater good of his fellowman, or to provide unwary service to humanity; the appointee has long forgotten about the virtues of the office he holds, he have ignored the dictates of his conscience and sought out a master to whom, he must give his undying loyalty, that master being: Ralph E. Gonsalves.
By now everyone should know that the Ralph E. Gonsalves Led Unity Labor Party, which was given the mandate to govern the political affairs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (S.V.G) had drafted and lay before the house of parliament a bill to be debated. A bill that will make it mandatory, for private citizen and or organizations, wanting to pursue legal action in the Magistrate court, within its civil jurisdiction; must first seek permission from the Director of Public Prosecution, before they can do so.
What does this mean to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines? It simple means, the people of S.V.G now has a D.P.P who is judge, Jury and executioner where such litigation are concern. The hold nation’s ability to seek and find civil justice is being placed in one man’s hand. How long before you will have to seek permission to file private criminal complaint in the magistrate court.
Do you know what is missing; the abolition of the court system and the institution of Ralph Gonsalves and his aids as the sole decider of the people’s legal and other fate. At lease this is the direction in which St. Vincent and the Grenadines is quickly heading.
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, common practice and the law have been butting heads for some time now. It is my understanding that common practice should mimic the law; however, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines it seems like common practice is a law of and on its own. So I need help understanding some simple things.
• Isn’t the office of attorney general a political position and the holders of that office is considered the Government lawyer?
• Isn’t the attorney general vested with the responsibilities to defend the government stands on legal matter in the court of law as well as in the court of public opinion?
• Isn’t the D.P.P the defender of Justice and his responsibility is to ensure that justice is done, not according to his opinion, personal feelings, or social or other affiliation but according to the laws of the land?
• Why is the Director of public prosecution trying to do the attorney general’s job?
• If the D.P.P is doing the attorney general’s job who is doing the DPP’s job?
Why does the current Director of Public Prosecution, feel the need to function in the capacity of the attorney general and take a public partisan stand, on this bill, which is geared to taking away the privileges of bring private civil matters before the magistrate court. I listened to extracts of Colin Williams’ attempt to defend the new bill and his actions as Director of Public Prosecutions, Williams gave a scenario of a young person who ran afoul of the law; was forgiven and later made a positive contribution to his society; Colin Williams must realize that this scenario could have four possible outcomes, not just the one that he put forward.
What Colin Williams have fail to understand is; being spared the stress of facing the justice system at a tender age; this may or may not cause that person to be reformed. If he or she does not reform; what them? In the same manner a youth that was made to face the same justice system for offences committed and were or were not convicted may or may not choose to be reformed. No one really know with these things, so police officers, teachers, Prosecutors, Magistrates, and even ordinary citizens take chances and offer forgiveness to offenders for offences they have committed, hoping they will choose to walk the straight and narrow; some times they do and some times they don’t. This position is not unique to the D.P.P. as a matter of fact; there are many jurisdictions that have method of preventing the foolish childhood actions of and individual from harming his or her future.
What is unfortunate; to my knowledge, I say again; to my knowledge, Colin Williams in his capacity of Director of Public prosecution did not cause any such youth to be spared the stress of the Justice system, at lease he did not stepped in on Luke Browne’s (a young man who was taken to magistrate court on election related charges) behalf. Luke was allegedly encouraged to violate the electoral laws by his political mentor Ralph E. Gonsalves. This young man was not given the benefit of the DPP intervention; yet less than a month later, the Director of Public prosecutions acted on behalf of a practicing politician and experience lawyer who now wallows in old age and should know better, Ralph E. Gonsalves.
It is time my people, began to heed with active minds and willing heart, the counsel of Martin Luther King; who in his I have a dream speech said; "We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt, so we must cash this check; a check that will give us upon demand, the riches of freedom and the security of justice. This is no time to taste the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism."
It seems as if everything in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is spinning around on a perpetual wheel of idiosyncrasy; so we must stop fooling around with exploitive men who only have the control of power as their priority. Remember all through history men have suffered and die to ensure that they and their children enjoy freedom and justice; what sacrifices are you willing to make for your children?
One of the reasons that can be attributed for the current state of disingenuousness that exist within our people is the repercussion of slavery. Our fore-parents have been subjected to a master for so long that they have subliminally and through other means, unwillingly taught countless generations these habits and attitudes that have led so many to sought out and make masters.
It seems like children of slaves need to always have someone to look up to, someone to please, someone they willingly make themselves subjected to: a modern day master. Hence the reason the Jamaican poet Bob Marley, in his poem titled: "Redemption Song", asked us to; "emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, not just our self (being) but free our minds."
It is for this reason, even after serious considering of national and regional pride; I can never support the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal for this jurisdiction. I also know the first appointees, to this institution will seek to set standards to make this institution a viable one; but it will soon deteriorate into a state of irreversible corruption; in the same manner in which the esteem office of the Director of Public Prosecution (D.P.P) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has fall.
In St. Vincent case, instead of the DPP trying to uphold the principles of his offices, or to serve the greater good of his fellowman, or to provide unwary service to humanity; the appointee has long forgotten about the virtues of the office he holds, he have ignored the dictates of his conscience and sought out a master to whom, he must give his undying loyalty, that master being: Ralph E. Gonsalves.
By now everyone should know that the Ralph E. Gonsalves Led Unity Labor Party, which was given the mandate to govern the political affairs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (S.V.G) had drafted and lay before the house of parliament a bill to be debated. A bill that will make it mandatory, for private citizen and or organizations, wanting to pursue legal action in the Magistrate court, within its civil jurisdiction; must first seek permission from the Director of Public Prosecution, before they can do so.
What does this mean to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines? It simple means, the people of S.V.G now has a D.P.P who is judge, Jury and executioner where such litigation are concern. The hold nation’s ability to seek and find civil justice is being placed in one man’s hand. How long before you will have to seek permission to file private criminal complaint in the magistrate court.
Do you know what is missing; the abolition of the court system and the institution of Ralph Gonsalves and his aids as the sole decider of the people’s legal and other fate. At lease this is the direction in which St. Vincent and the Grenadines is quickly heading.
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, common practice and the law have been butting heads for some time now. It is my understanding that common practice should mimic the law; however, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines it seems like common practice is a law of and on its own. So I need help understanding some simple things.
• Isn’t the office of attorney general a political position and the holders of that office is considered the Government lawyer?
• Isn’t the attorney general vested with the responsibilities to defend the government stands on legal matter in the court of law as well as in the court of public opinion?
• Isn’t the D.P.P the defender of Justice and his responsibility is to ensure that justice is done, not according to his opinion, personal feelings, or social or other affiliation but according to the laws of the land?
• Why is the Director of public prosecution trying to do the attorney general’s job?
• If the D.P.P is doing the attorney general’s job who is doing the DPP’s job?
Why does the current Director of Public Prosecution, feel the need to function in the capacity of the attorney general and take a public partisan stand, on this bill, which is geared to taking away the privileges of bring private civil matters before the magistrate court. I listened to extracts of Colin Williams’ attempt to defend the new bill and his actions as Director of Public Prosecutions, Williams gave a scenario of a young person who ran afoul of the law; was forgiven and later made a positive contribution to his society; Colin Williams must realize that this scenario could have four possible outcomes, not just the one that he put forward.
What Colin Williams have fail to understand is; being spared the stress of facing the justice system at a tender age; this may or may not cause that person to be reformed. If he or she does not reform; what them? In the same manner a youth that was made to face the same justice system for offences committed and were or were not convicted may or may not choose to be reformed. No one really know with these things, so police officers, teachers, Prosecutors, Magistrates, and even ordinary citizens take chances and offer forgiveness to offenders for offences they have committed, hoping they will choose to walk the straight and narrow; some times they do and some times they don’t. This position is not unique to the D.P.P. as a matter of fact; there are many jurisdictions that have method of preventing the foolish childhood actions of and individual from harming his or her future.
What is unfortunate; to my knowledge, I say again; to my knowledge, Colin Williams in his capacity of Director of Public prosecution did not cause any such youth to be spared the stress of the Justice system, at lease he did not stepped in on Luke Browne’s (a young man who was taken to magistrate court on election related charges) behalf. Luke was allegedly encouraged to violate the electoral laws by his political mentor Ralph E. Gonsalves. This young man was not given the benefit of the DPP intervention; yet less than a month later, the Director of Public prosecutions acted on behalf of a practicing politician and experience lawyer who now wallows in old age and should know better, Ralph E. Gonsalves.
It is time my people, began to heed with active minds and willing heart, the counsel of Martin Luther King; who in his I have a dream speech said; "We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt, so we must cash this check; a check that will give us upon demand, the riches of freedom and the security of justice. This is no time to taste the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism."
It seems as if everything in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is spinning around on a perpetual wheel of idiosyncrasy; so we must stop fooling around with exploitive men who only have the control of power as their priority. Remember all through history men have suffered and die to ensure that they and their children enjoy freedom and justice; what sacrifices are you willing to make for your children?
corrupt indeed
ReplyDelete"We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt, so we must cash this check; a check that will give us upon demand, the riches of freedom and the security of justice. This is no time to taste the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism."
ReplyDeleteHold Strong SVG will soon clense itself of these people.
Well put Palmer, I could not have said it better. Continue the sruggle and let your pen speak for you. They hear you loud and strong; If I can hear you I know for certain Gonsalves and his followers can also.
ReplyDelete