In what is becoming a war of words, National Security Minister, Rayburn Blackmoore, has called on the Dominica Bar Association (DBA) to retract a statement it made following comments he uttered regarding the granting of bail to double murder-accused Jonathan Lehrer.
He said he is “deeply saddened” by the statement made by the DBA, in which it questioned whether he was challenging the independence of the judiciary in Dominica.
“I wish to say that this baseless statement is imputing improper motive on me,” Blackmoore said. “I hope therefore that the statement of the bar association is retracted immediately and consideration be given to the fact that the relationship between parliament, the judiciary, and the public is to protect the interest of all people of the nation.”
He called on the DBA to “uphold the rule of law.”
“And to be guided by that it is in the interest of justice that it [retracts] this statement,” he pointed out.
The minister argued that the DBA has provided no basis in law showing that his statement had amounted to interference in judicial independence.
“I did absolutely nothing wrong,” he stressed.
Last week news broke that the High Court in Dominica had opened bail for Lehrer, who was charged along with his accomplice, Robert Snider Jr., on December 6, 2023, for the brutal murder of well-known Canadian businessman Daniel Langlois and his partner, Dominique Marchand.
Less than 24 hours later, Blackmoore made it clear that the state was “totally opposed” to the move, saying while he appreciates the independence of the court, there is consensus in society that certain crimes, because of the brutality involved, are very serious and must be dealt with by the courts in the most serious manner. He also said that the public interest is a “transcending issue” in the case, and it must be seen as being “preserved and protected by the court at all times.”
The DBA was quick to respond, saying Blackmoore’s view on the matter was “concerning and unfortunate.”
“This type of public criticism by a Minister of Government of a judicial decision unnecessarily casts a shadow over the independence of the judiciary and risks eroding public confidence in our legal system,” the organization said.
In his latest response, Blackmoore appeared to show disappointment in the DBA’s criticism of his statement.
“I have always held the bar association of Dominica in the highest regard,” Blackmoore remarked.
“I know several of its members are distinguished attorneys at law both in Dominica and internationally, however, I believe firstly, that one needs to beg the question: why such a statement is being made counteracting my statement made in respect to the bail order of the High Court concerning the accused in question…”
According to him, as Minister of National Security and Legal Affairs in Dominica, it is his duty to inform Dominicans on matters of public interest.
He said in the early stages of the prosecution of the matter, which had sparked interest locally and internationally, he addressed the public through a press conference but the DBA was silent at that time.
“At this time, there [were] absolutely no statements made by the bar association of Dominica,” he stated.
“My recent statement, however, seems to have attracted concern. In my statement, I did not in any way commit the act of interference in judicial independence. I in no way made statements attacking His Lordship. I also did not advocate for and direct in any way that a particular ruling be made. My comments were also made after the order of bail was granted and I remained silent during previous litigation of the matter, both at the first bail hearing in April and this one in the month of November.”
Blackmoore also argued that judges do not have immunity from criticism.
“Coupled with this, the bar association ought to consider that judges can be subject to criticism, both by lawyers and public officials, as long as this criticism is one, respectful, two, measured and free based on evidence,” he said.
He added that criticism of judges can be made but it must be done without malice and it must not disrupt the administration of justice.
The National Security Minister questioned whether the statement from the DBA was approved and ratified by the majority of its members.
“Clearly, it appears that this unsigned statement being circulated may not be that of the distinguished bar association that I know to be existing in Dominica and may be one-sided and similarly partisan,” he said.
Black-boy, you are one of the very worst of all to be called a government minister in Dominica, the thing you told your constituents you were going to do for them, is that you and Roosevelt Skerrit that corrupted crook, that bent-up black cockroach was going to build a hotel for them on Rodney’s Rock.
Reason is the tourist could go to Rodney’s Rock to see the holes left there by shelling of a British Battleship all night in the 1700 or 1800’s hundreds between the British and the French fighting for ownership of Dominica. When morning came the British discovered they fought a dead Rock all night oui!
Hahahahahahahahahahah!
So, the holes in the rock is an attraction extended to tourists by an idiot!
Roosevelt fires every other minister, except you, I guess he fear you let out the secrete you have holding over his head!
Rodney’s Rock cannot even accommodate a pit-hole toilet the size of the one you squat over before you became an overnight millionaire the same as Roosevelt!
“consideration be given to the fact that the relationship between parliament, the judiciary, and the public is to protect the interest of all people of the nation.”(Rayburn Blackmoore).
Black-boy, if Dominica was a different place, and people had not experienced your, and Roosevelt kind; undermining opposition members, and victimizing innocent people who refuse to dress in red, your what; I consider to be nothing more than sarcasm might be believed!
In Dominica, the judiciary do not operate by executing the written tabled laws of the land, rather by the directives of an idiot like you and Roosevelt Skerrit. Black-boy don’t you think it is actually stupid for a government to suggest one of the criteria to grant an alleged murderer bail, is for him to give up, denounce his citizenship of the country of his birth, in this case the United States of America, and become a citizen of Dominica? Any wonder any foreign criminal can buy Dominica citizenship by buying your passports?
Useless incompetent idiot.
why is he opening his mouth apart from stating the facts. feller shut your mouth and go and do what skerrit tell you to do. let the courts and judges do their job and sit by like everybody else. one minute u want to send police and tear gas old people criticizing your and roosevelt next minute u want to play innocent and act like you did nothing wrong? SHUTYOUR MOUTH! nobody ask you question. the DBA stayed silent for a reason. and would have made a statement when the time was right. granted u are the min of natl security..but you are not a lawyer or a magistrate. you are an ex police. and everybody know dominican police not the smartest.
This guy just won’t stop. In my humble opinion, no one needs to retract anything, until he retracts his personal opinion concerning the judiciary. “Blackmoore also argued that judges do not have immunity from criticism.” So then, you Blackmoore are criticizing, but now like a spoiled little brat, you can’t handle criticism when it is aimed at you. My boy, let it go. If the accused is given bail, that is per the constitution and the amendments you yourselves passed a few years ago. Despite all the various theories, expectations, and declarations, the judiciary has to do its job, and that is what they are doing.
No independence of court happens here. The system in Dominica does not and has evolved enough post our independence to talk about or show any manner of independence. We have countless instances of Dominica violating human rights on foreign soil both in the United States and European Union soil.
I hope the European Union take note of what is going on, on its soil to sanction us as there is AID offered to Dominica contingent of our Human Rights records and by all accounts our records do not show.
I am doing research for m project, and I have contacted Amnesty International, European Council. I have written to the Government of Dominica, foreign minister, prime minister, Minister of tourism, Attorney General, Speaker of the House, Clerk of the House, Chief Establishment Officer, resident, minister of national security, US state department, two permanent members of the UN Security Council concerning Dominica. Director of Public Prosecutions, Minister of Housing – A know violator.
Hos did you all decide this case? Now we get to know how the United States does business. What is does when its citizens are out there. When the US says as part of its foreign policy it is locking after its citizens abroad.
Dominica has not gotten there yet, and we will do not know when we will get there. You all will understand how a country when it has human rights issues how it works. Do you any prisoners for prisoner swaps and how did you leverage the prisoner.
How many Dominicans on foreign you can have released. How many have the Government of Dominica secured their release?
Dominicans are all talk no action. There are places where a sort of reprieve can be sought out – Human Rights courts around the World.
European Council, United Nations, so many countries have human rights courts which could assist us.
I have written to as part of my class and yes concerning Dominica. I have written to the administration and no answer.
I smell a rat!!!!!
I just hope de man doh walk free after all dat saga
dat would be seen as well calculated
This is a case of “Wag the Dog.” Rayburn is often silent and absent when some of the most heinous crimes are committed on the island. The accused are either granted bail, released on technicalities or other. This guy is totally incompetent and lacks any foresight, insight or ability to get anything done. I can list a laundry list of murders that have occurred during the tenure of the Cabalist Regime without any of them being solved. The only time that useless Rayburn and his Comrades have “Mouth” is when local calypsonians voice their opposition to the constant “Labor Party Nonsense” with tunes like “Speak the Truth and Gangster Gunslinger.” A written or verbal statement from useless Rayburn and nothing equals the same.
Blackmoore you were a policeman. You are not a lawyer and you never studied law but as a policeman you did forensic so I hope that you secured the forensics from the murder scene.
Now here is how you are undermining the independence of the Court, according to your rant from DNO, ‘While acknowledging the independence of the court, National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore said Dominica is “totally opposed” to the granting of bail to double murder-accused, Jonathan Lehrer. “Let me begin by making it fundamentally clear that the state takes this bail application for Jonathan Lehrer, one of the accused of the double murder of Dominique Marchand and Daniel Joseph Langois, very seriously and it is totally opposed to the granting of bail,” Blackmoore said.
So tell me Blackmoore, how can you, the Government oppose the Court decision? You are supposed to support the Court! What do you call your opposition to the Court’s decision, if not undermining? Supporting? You are a fool.
amen. I don’t know how hard that is to understand.
Tell him again; and in Dominica, it does not take academics, to get into the police force, one simply have to know someone who knows their mother, or father, or some relative, or at lease a politician.
One of the questions you should ask him, is how he manage to own more than one houses valued in the millions, on a former police, and a government minister salary?