French woman fined for cannabis

French female national, 27-year-old Lause Gaillauime who was arrested at the ferry port in Roseau with cannabis was fined $600.00 to be paid forthwith after she pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of cannabis.

Gaillauime had checked in to depart for Martinique on December 8, 2012 after spending a few days on the island. A routine scan by security at the Ferry Terminal revealed the illegal substance and the police were called.

She admitted to possessing the drugs and was arrested by the police.

In court her lawyer Darius Jones, in mitigation, said she had not wasted the court’s time and was remorseful for her actions.

“She is embarrassed for the shame she has already bought to her mother and father who are in court … she was in the cells over the weekend plus she has lost her travel ticket and so she and her family have this extra charges to undergo,” Jones told the court.

He implored on the court to “temper justice with mercy” in sentencing.

“The amount is very small, she being a traveler thought like in Europe she would have been able to have a small amount of the drugs in her possession,” he stated.

Before sentencing, magistrate Candia Carette George stated, “ignorance of the law is no excuse” and while she she understood Gaillauime’s plight, she ought to have been “more careful” and knows that cannabis in any amount is “illegal in Dominica.”

She was fined $600.00 to be paid forthwith in default one month in jail.

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21 Comments

  1. Truth
    December 11, 2012

    :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: :?: Some states in the U.S has just voted for the legalisation of marihuana.Are the backward governments of these islands awaiting when all the U.S states will do the same so they can be lenient on people who possess the herb for thei personal use?Ho w backward can those immigration officers and police be that they can’t use their discretion?Tese people who holds position on this island is so backwardnthat all they like to do is exercise power.Don’t get me wrong,cause i don’t smoke or get involved with any drugs or alcohol,but people should be free to use whatever they want as long as they are not imposing on other people’s right,like smoking in their faces. :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: :?:

    • follow fashion
      December 12, 2012

      so if america call something right or legal… we should just follow fashion..?? nonesense. just now we will say no praying in schools too because america did it.. stchupes!

  2. Critical Thinker
    December 11, 2012

    This is just to show how primitive and retarded our law makers and policies are in this country.

    Israel is using marijuana for research, the state of Washington and Colorado has made marijuana legal.

    Some of our people are even more retarded because they do not protest for their rights. They are disillusioned and misguided.

    Decriminalize marijuana now!

    • follow fashion
      December 12, 2012

      you want to research it or smoke it?

  3. Mr. Jedi
    December 11, 2012

    Just one point.

    We (Dominica/ the Caribbean) keep cannabis illegal primarily because of the US and their stance on the plant. I believe that is mostly true, because people still smoke if they want in Dominica and d islands.

    So now when there are states where it is legal, why maintain that standard. Not necessarily rushing to legalize it, but decriminalizing it.

    Saves police time and will make a lil money for some people and eliminate some of the violence associated with having it as an illegal substance.

    my 2 cents

  4. WONG PING
    December 11, 2012

    the same people who sell weed for tourists are the same that set the police on them!shame shame and more shame!all the same i saw nowhere the quantity was mentioned!and the police proud for picking up someone with a small quantity of weed!!

  5. Raj
    December 11, 2012

    Surely 3 grams we must be worst than Afganistan

  6. nhusv
    December 11, 2012

    This is so stupid. It should be decriminalized for real.

    But when I was there on vacation this year a friend or so called friend of mine anita from scottshead tried to convince me to bring six pounds of weed to martinique ha ha! Now I’m reading this.

    3 grams couldn’t make it out de country and you want me to bring six pounds. Is me you doh like jaheal. SmfH.

    Careful of people. Never travel with contraban in the caribbean or anywhere. Smoke all you want on de land.

  7. Anonymous
    December 11, 2012

    wait? she thought DA was Amsterdam???? yes fada!

  8. Not a herd follower
    December 10, 2012

    Chupes. I think the time of the Court is being wasted with these petty, petty cases. The law should be amended to allow the Police to use their discretion in providing a warning to persons who are caught with small amounts of marijuana for the first time rather than locking them in jail and making a federal case of something so insignificant. The Courts can use the time to deal with the huge backlogs of cases.

  9. B.E.B
    December 10, 2012

    Would she be allowed to possess any amount of cannabis in Guadeloupe?

  10. Anonymous
    December 10, 2012

    what are we coming to. the woman was on her way out of the country. she was taken off the ferry terminal and locked up in a police cell fot two days then paraded in handcuffs to the court. imagine in a country where money is so scarce we can afford to spend on average $5,000.00 to prosecute for 3 grams of marijuana.it took prosecutor Weekes, three police officers, the Magistrate, a clerk, two custody officers, three security guards at the port,the investigating officer, two drug squard officers, two officers at the front desk at Police HQ, two officers to transport one accused and a lawyer to deal with a person in possession of 3 grams of weed. No wonder we cannot pay public servants 1%

    • "O" STRESS"
      December 10, 2012

      You seems so pasionate about this case, go get some of your own and board the ferry like the french woman instead of hiding under the no name BS, while siting or standing,behind a computer,let them parade you around from your rat hole where ever you are hiding, no name you want to talk the talk, so walk the walk. The bigger picture is these incident are happening so often we have to ask our selves if this is a front for some big drug and other illegal activities taking place in our Dominica.SmFH.

    • Justice and Truth
      December 10, 2012

      She violated the Law of Dominica. She must bear the consequences and pay the fine. What is your problem? :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

    • Jayson
      December 11, 2012

      An absolute and total waste of tax payers money! This crap has to stop!!

    • flower
      December 11, 2012

      The example to others worth the 5,000.00.

    • Anonymous
      December 11, 2012

      and only fined her $600.00. talk about covering cost and raising money for the treasury

  11. Grasshooper
    December 10, 2012

    They need to de criminalise the Herb in Dominica..

    Look at US States like Washington and Colorado.
    The Herb is there for medical and recreational use.

    But in due times the Caribbean well have no choice But to agree with the Western World on the Herb Just a matter of time..

    Surely the use of the herb for recreational and Medical Purposes would surely Bring Dominica as The Headline for making that bold step.

    Dominicans need to read and understand issues.

    It’s a herb from creation.

    Let the nature rule,Dominica would be a smarter And Highly Patriotic is more citizens partake in The Herb usage!

    • Justice and Truth
      December 10, 2012

      You love people and your country or not? Do you not want what is best for others and for your country? It is a drug. Do you know what a drug is and the meaning of it? It makes people tebeh/dotish. It sedates them; make them sleepy. It could also make them violent.
      Think forward and beyond, what it could do to them if it were decriminalized. Consider their actions which result from taking those drugs. This include theft and murder.
      The youths would have a field day with snorting these drugs, cannabis and marijuana all over the place. This is when I will say, “Dominica finish” and the youths, if these drugs are decriminalized. Utilize your common sense if you have any. :twisted: :twisted:

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