A 23 year old man of Scottshead, Wesley Foster Peter who pleaded guilty to charges of possession of cannabis and possession with intent to supply 498 grams of the illegal drug, was slapped with an $EC 4, 500.00 fine or in default, 13 months in jail.
Foster was arrested by members of the Drugs Squad who were on foot patrol in the city on December 24, 2012.
Reports are that he was spotted on Great Marlborough street and when approached by the police upon smelling the drug, Peter attempted to throw away a lighted marijuana stick he was using. He was searched and six clear plastic bags of the drugs were found in his bag.
He was fined $1,800 to be paid my March 31, 2013, in default 6 months for possession of cannabis and EC$2,700 to be paid by May 31, 2013, in default 7 months, for possession with intent to supply.
Meantime another young man, 19 year old Jonas Yazi Cuffy of Yam Piece was given until March 31, 2013 to pay EC$1,700 or go to jail for 10 months.
Cuffy pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession with intent to supply.
The police had also confiscated EC$195.50 from Cuffy but the amount was returned to him after the magistrate said that given the makeup of the money, she was not convinced that it was from the proceeds of drugs.
He pleaded with the court saying he was “sorry” and wanted another chance since he planned to go to college in September 2013.
Chief Magistrate, Evelina Baptiste, chided Cuffy for his behavior and implored him to “stay away from the illegal drugs.”
“From where I sit, I have seen destruction of the drugs in our society with some benefactors living nice and cozy while others go down the drain,” she said.
She also expressed concern about the level of “alcohol usage” by young people. “Alcohol should also be illegal like marijuana because it is destroying lives,” Baptiste stated.
@Hugh Yonn … Amen! I feel your pain. Just for marijuana they will stoop to such lows following the band wagon while the country and people who begun the persecution of marijuana, called the era of ‘Reefer madness’ (Google it, Google it), are DECRIMIMNALIZING AND/OR LEGALIZING IT.
For so long we’ve been told and we see for ourselves it’s not as harmful as alcohol and other such drugs, but these people, who have spent so much money on their university education keep making fools of themselves. It’s a shame on them, they too will go down in infamy for a salary.
From: HOW DID “REEFER MADNESS” GET STARTED?
“In fact, creating public hysteria over smoking marijuana was simply a smokescreen for Hearst and the wealthy DuPont family to prevent the cultivation or importation of hemp products into the United States. The DuPont’s held many lucrative patents on chemicals used in manufacturing plastics, paper, and paints that could become valueless if hemp products and hemp oil derivatives became widely available. But how could they prevent this harmless weed from making their billion dollar patents worthless?”
Today the effect of those people’s greed is actually actually still haunting and bugging down our economies in Dominica and the Caribbean.
Thank you for the enlightenment NRT. I always wondered how this all started and goes on till today. I also learned racism was at the heart of this since it was the blacks and Jazz musicians in the U.S that were into marijuana in the 1930’s. I can imagine what they went thru for marijuana and the color of their skin.
Good info, I’m sure the judges, politicians and police are reading this on DNO.
plainting weed is hard work but dem ministers that teething lol the country money is esssy its true u konw crime will never stop but we can decrise the leve if only dem law makers caired for the pore they got to take some time to think of how the por see the world feel is been treated expolted men i gould go on $ and on but i will stop here for now (nothing is new under de son )
wath allyou want the man to do ? It haven’t got jobs in the country.
free my friend
This is pathetic.
Law enforcement needs to re-direct its focus on crimes… to those that are REAL crimes.
I spent 5 years in Federal Prison for a marijuana offense. While I was there, I watched armed bank robbers come and go in as little as 20 months.
After 3 years ‘behind the wall,’ I pointed this out to the parole board. Their response: “You must understand, yours was a very serious offense.”
How do you respond to that mentality?
I laughed about the parole panel’s comment for 2 more years (as I still sat in prison), then wrote my book:
Shoulda Robbed a Bank
No, it is not a treatise on disproportionate sentences. .
I wrote about the escapades that led to my incarceration. I admit, I had a great time. No one was injured, no one was killed, firearms were not involved…there were no victims.
We were Americans pursuing happiness in our own way. Harming no one…nor their property.
That’s my contribution to helping point out just how ludicrous our pot laws truly are.
Given the makeup of the money???
All Paro on the side of road begging 25cents and a dollar. Where she living? OMG! The $$ supposed to be 100$ bills??? lololol
Until March 31 to pay 1,700$ ??? Drug problem can never stop.
Dominica ppl need to stop come on dno n blast our youths wen is di government we should b blasting, peter and many other youths have no jobs in the community of scotts head what do you expect them to do??? the government spent 27 million on a state palace just for good looks!! why they couldnt open up some factories smfh
Orange City, that is nonesense. What about creating employment for yourselves. The government cant give everybody a job. In the other countries there are unemployment as well. Scotts Head is a fishing village and the government have given several persons boats and engine. Government is assisting several young people to go college and also high school. Wesley is a young man who knowns from right to wrong. I recall hearing him singing with Marvin and dem. Why did he stop. U have to crip before u walk and that is the problem with the youth, they want quick cash to bling so they indulge in drugs.
Power to the people…Never to the Government
marijuana is not illegal,because it is there from the time the world was created!what is illegal:cigarettes,alcohol,official robbery.we follow america:a jamaican whom we know was fined 90 dollars and 3 months probation for 11 kilos of marijuana.and next thing:the guy is too blasted stupid;having weed for to supply and you smoking in roseau!you forget the smell man!!
like seriously! why fine these guys? fining them wont deter it will only motivate to do more crime! how do you think they pay these fines?? do these guys have legal income? honestly i believe when these drug dealers are fined they just go out selling more drugs to pay their fines cause i dont think they would want to be imprisoned which will hinder their business!
Intent to supply automatically goes with any moneys found in one possession. So we can see even the judicial system has issues.Feel so sorry for you all over there
Legalize Marijuana. The judge is making a good ‘case’ for legalization of the docile substance. Just Legalize Marijuana.
na jail all of those selling it! it spoiling our youths.
People still asking for the legalization of marijuana
It is known that marijuana:
Is physically addictive.
Causes some cancers.
Causes certain lung and breathing problems.
Damages parts of the brain responsible for memory and learning in people in their late teens and early
twenties.
Results in some high school and college students dropping out of school.
Is a “gate way” drug, leading to the use of heavier drugs.
Marijuana is illegal yet people sell, buy, and use it. You want it legalized
Think how many MORE people would be using it 
Studies show the more available any substance is the more it is used.
There is an appalling lack of logic and consistency in the lobby for decriminalization
We suspect it is mainly those who smoke the weed, or have a stake in its sale that want it decriminalized.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (Diploma in Drug Studies)
good for u
DNO: “‘Alcohol should also be illegal like marijuana because it is destroying lives,’ Baptiste stated”.
Well, this, in my view would be an exaggeration. However, i would support efforts at greater regulation of the sale and use of alcohol because i, too, am convinced of its deleterious effects on our society and its growing popularity among the young.
…@ P Tom …. would you also support efforts towards the regulation and sale of cannabis?
Someone need to tell Magistrate that her job is NOT to legislate from the bench but rather to use her discretion in finding an accused guilty or not, and then impose sanctions as mandated by the laws.
I have never seen a bottle of alcohol destroy some life but I have seen someone destroy their life with a bottle of alcohol.
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
legalize marijuana or face the consequent of rasta fari
Peter & Cuffy should state it was for medical use lol! We know the law is not n effect here but Certain lawyers would try forcing a doctor to write a note saying they both suffer from asthma hence it’s use. Corruption is wide spread and in varied forms from top to bottom so a Dr’s note could fly any doubters?
Dear Magistrate nice to learn that the powers that be are aware that many apparent good citizens are living nice and cozy at the expense of their mules and other high ups in society.
Then, sister Bannis is there fighting a losing battle.What a paradox! The guys in my opinion shoulf go to jail and keep their monies for when they get out. 10 months vs $ with free food and drink, early bed rest etc is a plus minus the possibilty of serving as wives to other inmates. If they can be ensured not being victims of starved in mates(smile) then take the jail time and save lol!.
Seems people no longer want to work hard for a living. They want quick, easy money they don’t have to work hard for.
The Magistrate spoke right when she said “…..some benefactors living nice and cozy while others go down the drain.” I totally agree with her.
She seems very much on top of the games being played. I hope when they come before her she knowing the precondition will throw the book at them with no mercy.
@ MIA; Whoever told u that cultivating and selling weed is easy money? Well my dear, my man does it to help himself and his family and it’s no easy work. U have to debush, plant, monitor, reap, cure, dry, package etc. No money is easy money. It requires uch effort to. I’m not saying that it’s right but I just want to point out that it’s not as easy as u guys make it out to be.
i am flabbergasted that she would have them return the money to him. clear;y it is the the proceeds of the drugs and to say that she does not believe so is dead wrong
hmm