Hefty fine for marijuana cultivation

Morne Prosper resident Hendricks Wade, who told the court that “things crucial”, has been slapped two hefty fines after pleading guilty to the charges of possession of cannabis and cultivation of cannabis.

Wade is to pay the court $5,000 by December 31, 2012 or in default 8 months in prison on the charge of possession of cannabis and $50,000 or one year and 5 months in prison for cultivating 964 trees in Morne Prosper.

According to Police Inspector Claude Weekes, officers were on bush patrol in the area when they noticed the cultivation of marijuana trees. The defendant was also seen standing on a galvanise shack near the trees. He was approached by the officers who inquired about the trees.

“Officers, marijuana trees,” he responded.

Wade stated that he had planted the trees early in March to help his family. “Things crucial. I have seven children,” he told the police.

He told the court that he and his family usually sold produce at the Roseau market however things “get a bit hard” and hence he was forced to cultivate the illegal drug.

But Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste would not hear any of it. She told Wade that his behaviour was rather unethical and expressed her disappointment in the fact that he was engaging in such an activity that would have a harmful effect on the young people in society.

Meanwhile, Jerry Carbon of Trafalgar pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession with intent to supply 341 grams of cannabis. Carbon was fined $2,300 to be paid by February 28th, 2013 or face 1 year in prison.

Carbon was arrested on September 8, 2012 at Trafalgar when officers on patrol noticed him standing by the road with a plastic bag. He originally declared that he was carrying bush tea. However, after being further interviewed, Carbon admitted that it was marijuana.

According to him he was trying to make a living since he is not working.

Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste told the defendant that she was concerned about the high prevalence of the use of drugs among the young people. She said that she had to take that into consideration when passing his sentence.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

43 Comments

  1. Truth Now
    September 12, 2012

    It is time for the world to legalize this plant. Not only will fill in the gaps of failing economies it will keep a lot of people out of jail that are NOT criminals.
    It is hypocritical of any government to make marijuana illegal while alcohol continues to be legal. There is more death, disease and discord due to alcohol then marijuana can ever create.

    • DA gal
      September 13, 2012

      weed is worse just look at the number of young parros on the streets black lips, razzy hair, bad conduct no aim and ambition.

      • Opinionated
        September 13, 2012

        DA girl, this is far from the truth. It is crack which does this.

        Marijuana does not make you “parro.”

      • haha
        September 13, 2012

        DA Gal, am sorry to burst your bubble but you obviously no nothing about the history and benefits of this plant. just correcting you and supporting opinionated, it is not this plant that is causing it to have more paro. some of them are plain wicked to themselves, they are broke and have no other choice, they became frustrated. others have simply gone mad mentally. there are also those who take excessive crack/cocain. they may smoke weed but for weed to be the cause of that, nahhhh. ever head of anybody becoming ill or anyone who is ill because of this plant. you may find testimonials for those who have gotten better because of it. read, learn, then comment. please and thank you.

      • Herbalist
        September 13, 2012

        DA gal,

        You sound ignorant and foolish, to think that marijuana is even nearly as harmful as alcahol u must be clearly brainwashed!

  2. Sout Man
    September 11, 2012

    I’m glad that Jerry Carbon was only fined $2300.00 for 341 grams (less than one pound)of weed and given 5 months to pay it off.

    Compare that to the Grand Bay woman, a mother, who, late last year, was fined $10 000.00 for 410 grams (less than one pound), to be paid within 3 months. Where is the justice and consistency? Madame Magistrate, your bias and hatred for some people & geographic location is glaring!! Or, does the ‘Carbon’ surname sound familiar and evokes sympathy?

    • Sout Man
      September 11, 2012

      PS: The USA, especially the state of California, was “tough on crime”. Today, their prisons are bursting at the seams and they are forced to release seasoned criminals on the streets. Incarceration has become an economic activity for profit instead of a vehicle for re-education and rehabilitation.

      Woe to the downpressors!!

      • Annonymous
        September 12, 2012

        True dat. I agree, Sout Man I always look forward to be inspired by you. There is surely bias in her rulings, Dominicans are paying attention.

      • Herbalist
        September 13, 2012

        They eat the bread of sorrow!

  3. Silent R
    September 11, 2012

    I Don’t balme the man for doing that. Marijuana is a good plant is just the people using it in the wrong way. Things are so hard in this world. Nowadays education dosen’t even take you as far as you wish to go is pull string that existing now. Look at me for example, I struggled so much to finish my schooling and thought i would get a good job to help me to go to college and yet i am still at my home with nothing to do. And students i know that never finish there education have high jobs that i trying to get. The man should just be charged a small amount of money be free. What a world. :(

  4. morefire
    September 11, 2012

    the magistrate will see her own misery for her lack of judgment all in due time. life is a cycle.How can you charge a poor man that amount of money for a plant the father created. and things are really hard in Dominica (where is the work that pays equivalent to your work put in). i know the miss magistrate is living nice with her big house and car.

  5. September 11, 2012

    This magistrate delivers judgement based on whether she likes you or not. This lady forced the registrar to implement a decision of the appeal court even if the case was continuing in the privy council. so much for justice in Dominica. This is just a warped country

  6. haha
    September 11, 2012

    that bud looking nice and (hopefully)organic. would have some of that with a nice cup of black coffee :mrgreen:

  7. budman
    September 11, 2012

    do poor people have plenty children or do plenty children make you poor? i always ask this question. cos i don’t really see well to do and rich people with plenty kids. always de poor people with 5 and more kids. why?

    • School leaver
      September 11, 2012

      They have more children, because they enjoy the sex more. Whilst the “rich” people in their big house fighting with each other over money matters, the poor man in his shack giving loving to his woman. Because that’s the only thing he can give her, that wont cost him too much. LOL :lol:

    • new age
      September 11, 2012

      Guess poor people r richer in their way..poor or rich, 1 or ten neva too much thanks 2 every birth ITS ‘LIFE’ ….5’0 ual shud arrest sumone 4 the tins of sardin and small milk which is twice the cost of b4.

  8. Soon Come.
    September 11, 2012

    Things are not hard in the country. Why is it the majority of dominicans drive very good cars eat well dress nice and get loans to build beautiful houses and live well?
    Teal the damn soil and make your fortunes and show everyone that we can use what we have to get what we want.DAMN IT.
    Stop depending on Government. We are not a Communist country.
    If you think things are hard in DA,come to the US.
    Everyday the mail man drops off a bill of some kind.

    • Resident
      September 11, 2012

      Everyday the mail man drops off a bill of some sort here as well. The people here did not say they were depending on Government. He planted the marijuana to help himself. How can a God made plant be illegal anyway. Legalize the blasted bush.

      • Justice and Truth
        September 12, 2012

        @ Resident

        You must use your judgment if you have any. God does not approve of a plant to be distributed to people which will create a health hazard, make them dotish, non-productive nationals and kill them. For whatever reason all plants, flowers and grass also animals, mammals and birds are not edible and healthy.
        I do think that when those human beings realized that this plant is potent and can be sold for exorbitant sums of money, they over did it. This plant, cultivated, ingested and sold in excess is not beneficial, health-wise. The idea is to make exorbitant sums of money from it and to get rich. and obtain material possessions at the expense of the health and welfare of nationals. This is what is wrong with it.

    • Anonymous
      September 12, 2012

      I agree with this comment. Dominicans don’t really know how good they have it. Try getting up everyday at 5AM to go to work and not getting back until 7:00PM. Try having a mortgage of $2500.00 or $1500 in rent and all the other bills that you pay in America. The grass always looks greener on the other side. You may not have big money but you have your country and your soil. Live up!

  9. Annonymous
    September 11, 2012

    It is CLEAR that MARIJUANA has to be legalized!

    • budman
      September 11, 2012

      that’s not clear from this story. if it were legal, the economic value would fall drastically as the plant is easy to reproduce. therefore the man wouldn’t make enough to support his 7 children.

  10. anonymous2
    September 10, 2012

    Easy money for the govt. while the people struggle.

  11. ROSEAU VALLEY
    September 10, 2012

    The Roseau Valley is in the news- Plateau City (Morne Prosper) and TR City (Trafalgar) but for the wrong reason. Roseau Valley does not condone the violation of our laws, therefore understands that reasonable and appropriate sanctions must be meted out.

    Hendricks and Jerry were caught. They were charged with the commission of a legal wrong and cannot be exonerated. Contrary to the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Wade’s behaviour was not “unethical”. The Chief Magistrate needs to note the difference between a legal wrong and a moral/ethical wrong, albeit the two sometimes merge in one act.

    Planting marijuana as a means of sustaining a family of a wife and 7 children because things are “crucial” in Dominica is not by any stretch of our laws or interpretation of Father Thomas an “unethical” act. It is simply illegal.

    Mr. Wade did not run away from the Police. He simply advised them that things are hard and crucial in Dominica. This is man who took a conscious decision to plant marijuana aware that if caught he would have to pay the price. He took the risk to support his family in the same way that the PM of St Vincent advised the US government that with the decline of the banana industry, the youth of St Vincent will have no choice but to plant marijuana for their survival.

    In these challenging economic times, the “unethical” white collar crimes in Dominica are not being aggressively tackled by law enforcement, the magistracy or the courts.

    Lawyers with 44 counts of criminal offenses are not served warrants issued by the Chief Magistrate. These same lawyers are placed on all statutory boards. Firing bombings are not investigated- no extradition of Sicko -Secko. Murder cases remain unresolved, $5000.00 salaries building million dollar houses and our unemployment situation is worsening.

    Consider the circumstances, if this man with 7 children were to be imprisoned, would his family be better off? Would his wife be better off? Would his children be better off? Would Dominica be better off? What would we gain as a society to imprison a man for trying to assist his family by planting marijuana? He did not steal, commit robbery or murder. He has heeded the call to return to the soil, albeit he did so by substituted the quality carrots, chives, tomato, celery and parsley that the people of Morne Prosper are known to be producing for year with another plant- an illegal one.

    I am reminded of the days when the police would hunt down distillers of Mountain dew in the Valley because its production was illegal whereas Belfast was producing alcohol for export under license. The same alcohol that destroys our society but one produced legally by a factory that paaid taxes and the other illegally by the poor man struggling to make a living.

    Nevertheless, when the law is violated one must pay even under circumstances where the pocket change that the dishonorable Parl. Rep of the Roseau Valley circulated in the constituency during the last general elections to oust the honourable UWP Parl Rep Mr. Norris Charles have now vanished in thin air.

    • Just an observer
      September 11, 2012

      Well said! Now put that brilliant mind of yours to bette use by forming a commity of like minded people to help alleviate current conditions on our beautiful nature island. Peace

      • ROSEAU VALLEY
        September 11, 2012

        Thank you. You are very generous and kind. “Better use you say.” I enjoy doing this. I love DNO. I think my rambling serves a purpose. At least you read it. If I can help change a single mind and help someone to cultivate hopes of better days ahead – that is good enough for now. The community will be built in time.
        Keep observing, reading and sharing your feedback. Much appreciated.

  12. Country Man
    September 10, 2012

    I sometimes wonder what metric do these learned judges and magistrates used to come up with fines they impose – especially when it comes to marijuana, a plant in its natural state. How do you justify taking $50,000 from a family that’s already in the negative for a plant – remember man did not create the plant – actually according to the bible it was created before man (god created the garden and man came after to take care of that garden). This is why I think that there will never be justice in marijuana laws. The court system uses the bible to seek truth and justice – but how can that really be when you are judging a plant created by God illegal/bad and anyone using the plant a criminal. This is such blatant hypocrisy that I am truly surprise that society on a whole has gone along with it and continue to do so for such a long time. You don’t have to be a marijuana user to see that this is wrong on all levels. To add injury to insult a big shot get caught with weed the system provides multiple avenues for him/her to wriggle out of it. The poor farmer get caught he/she faces the full brunt of the system with some extra force. So much for justice. I wonder – do we have a conscience?

  13. Ileen
    September 10, 2012

    I realy find that the fine is very heavy. Look like she just did not like him. The fine is very stiff.

    • Justice and Truth
      September 10, 2012

      Obey the Law or pay the price of disobedience.

  14. Joeblo
    September 10, 2012

    What a shame, hungry people starving and they are going straight to jail – 7 children. Where the H the man getting $50,000? And … the people who were caught RIGHT HANDED stealing $0.5m from the Treasury are allowed to call it a ‘MIS-TAKE’ (they did not take it properly). AHHHHHHH!!!!!! MAGWAY SAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

  15. Show me the money
    September 10, 2012

    I would take the year and months in jail than give the government 50,000 in times like this they know how hard it is to make that kind of doh. They mad man

  16. Rastar-Marn
    September 10, 2012

    But wait nuh,,, Allyouman Dozen get dis man,,, first of all when allyou Marn go to “Court” allyou need to ask dem Magistrates, Lawyers and all D rest of administrators where is their delegation of Authority,,,

    Ailass I really doh like what mista-dem and mamzelle Dem doing yeah but in due time,,,

    Allyou ever go to court and listen to a Case??? How comes it’s in the Crown’s name dem Vassals and feudatories always bringing their action(s),,, dat alone should tell allyou dat whole process is a Sham,,,

    Actually any action(s) brought by a plaintiff should be able to be presenting by the Plaintiff to show cause, and present Plaintiff’s True Bill for Damages brought by the defendant(s),,,

    So check this out,,, when somebody figure out how the court system gonna get its monetary compensation of $50,000 while D farmer is sitting up at Stock Farm,,, Please let us on here know yeah,,,

    I know allyou BallHeaded Man-dem reading dis yeah, so answer D question presented!!!

  17. Observer
    September 10, 2012

    What a waste of time tine. $50,000.00 or 1 year and five months in prison? The man will take his prison and come out within a few months short of a year and go back to his old ways. This prison option is NOT AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT. It should be $50,000 or 15 years in prison with a minimum of ten years before parole could be considered. In this way it would be better to pay the fine. In a situation like that the offender will have a lot to think about before going into the business.

    We have to be serious if we are to get tough on crime and the drug trade in particular. The perpetrators tell you I taking my jail, knowing fully well that they will be out pretty soon. But if the jail term was frightening enough then it could possibly serve as some form of deterrrent. $50,000.00 is a good fine, but the prison option is laughable.

    • Whizzle
      September 11, 2012

      he cant afford to feed his children

      • Justice and Truth
        September 12, 2012

        @ Whizzle

        I do not want to judge him for I do not know if he is married or not. Nevertheless, if he is not married and does not have a well-paying and stable job he should not have so many children. It is too late for that. He may yet have more children. This is the cause of poverty and child-poverty.
        Prior to feeling sorry for him we must know about his life story. Is there not help for him to support his children? If he cannot afford to feed his children, the DA Social Service could assist him.
        Despite this, it is illegal to grow marijuana. This is the issue. There is no excuse for disobeying the Law. He took a chance and he got caught and now has to pay the price.

    • ice cold
      September 11, 2012

      it is all nice and good for you folks who have had everything you wanted fall right in your laps. for others it is easy to see that many things will not come to reality if something desperate is not done “get rich or die trying dog”

      • Justice and Truth
        September 12, 2012

        @ ice cold

        Who has? How many people were born with a silver spoon? How many received an inheritance? There is a Canadian Indian saying which I heard since I came to Canada: “Never judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins.”
        Generally everyone worked hard for what they achieved, through thick and thin, with obstacles and struggles. They should not be envied.
        In life, people have to work for their livelihood. They should not go about having sex, some with different women/men and having several babies especially if they cannot afford to support them. Some people could be negligent, irresponsible and live a life of leisure. Then they blame the government and society for their woes and poverty. Think about this.

  18. huh?
    September 10, 2012

    so why dont u consider unemployment also??????????????

  19. go girl
    September 10, 2012

    alas, i feel bad for jerry. very nice young man but things are so hard in the country, wat else to do na

  20. yardie
    September 10, 2012

    come on magistrate baptise you need to stop dem kin of ting you could take it easy on the poor man may be if it was a sub-machine gun dem cops had meet him wit you would let him go free

  21. marigot dog
    September 10, 2012

    its so funnny how police take pride in arrestin ppl for weed n the real criminals are rite in there face n they doin nun stupes !!!!!!!!!!

    • dirty coutry
      September 11, 2012

      marigot dog u couldnt say it any better

  22. Morihei Ueshiba
    September 10, 2012

    :lol: sesquipedalian sarcasm

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available