Magistrate Bernard Pacquette slapped a $6,000 fine on Darran Kelon Hilaire after he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
Hilaire, 23, is a formerly of Petite Savanne but is now a resident at Kent Anthony’s Guest House in Roseau.
He was arrested by the Drug Squad on May 5, 2016 in Layou with 4,540 grams of marijuana with an estimated street value of $10,000.
He is to pay $2,000 by today or in default spend two months in jail.
The remaining $4,000 is to be paid in six months and in default six months jail time.
Before the fine was imposed, Hilaire’s lawyer, Ronald Charles, begged the court not to impose a custodial sentence on his client who, he said, was “sorry and remorseful for his actions.”
“He pleaded guilty…fully cooperated with the police he is hurt and embarrassed and is now at the mercy of the court,” Charles said.
Halaire, he said, had a three-year-old son and wanted to be given another chance in life.
He has no previous convictions.
We have such fertile land…why can’t we grow the weed and sell it to our neighboring countries and U.S where it is legalized and used as medicine. If the herb is legalized then we will see no more misery in Dominica…we will make money for medicine…#imjustsaying##
The harmful effects of smoking the weed are well known by those who want to know the truth.
Those who enjoy the ”high” and those who make money from its sale obviously don’t want to know the truth and they resent me writing about it because they don’t want others to know.
Marijuana is not only psychologically addictive. It is also physically addictive.
It can cause lung and breathing problems.
It can contribute to the growth of some cancers.
It damages parts of the brain responsible for memory and learning. This means it contributes to forgetfulness making it especially dangerous to young people in high school, college, or university.
It is often associated with criminal behavior. It has been know that people who go on a binge of violence and murder were high on marijuana, along with alcohol, and one or more hard drugs.
Those who are in possession of marijuana with intent to sell should be taken down. Let the police keep
up the good work.
Sincerely,…
You can imply all you want that everyone who disagrees with you about cannabis either smokes it or sells it, but you’d be as wrong about that as you are about every other aspect of this issue. You prohibitionists have had your way for over half a century on this, and all you’ve done is cause a lot more harm to people’s livelihoods and liberties than cannabis itself could ever do. Enough is enough.
Did you hear what former PM Chretien stated yesterday? He approves the legislation of marijuana. I heard he tried to legislate it since he was in office but Parliament was prorogued. This was when they were trying to oust him. They had had enough of him. I am shocked and disappointed at Chretien.
Canada’s PM, Justine Trudeau will do likewise. It will have to wait until next year.
Some people want all sorts of immoral and dangerous laws legislated: abortion, prostitution, euthanasia, so-called same sex marriage. What next, eh? There are other immoralities which highly offend our God.
I often wonder how much more God can take before He sends down his fire and brimstone.
As Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Pray and wait.”
Why is ganja even illegal? Is the government not paying attention to science and statistics? Prohibition against alcohol, war against drugs in the US, they have all failed miserably, are costing more than ever in money and human destroyed lives. Obama is now making some amends in that area and are releasing non-violent gun offenders.
Prohibition could have succeeded if it were not for crooked politicians and cops on the take.
Alcohol is a dangerous substance. It takes many lives each year in Canada and the USA. It is responsible for automobile accidents, family break-ups, loss of jobs, an much more. It should not be legalize.
The harm caused by cannabis has been made public. No caring parent wants their children experimenting with this drug. It is costing governments to treat addiction and health damages caused by marijuana.
Those who want it legalized are those with a substance abuse problem themselves or see the potential of making money from its sale.
It sickens me to hear people talking about the thriving industry pot could be and the profits that could be made. This $$$$$$$$$$$$$ mentality is the very thing that drove slavery. It is what fuels the sex trade.
The ground that would produce cannabis would also grow all manner of fruit and veggies.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Cocaine and child abuse going scotch free but 6000$ for herb. Jah, rastafar i
The inconsistencies in the justice system is appalling.
These two extremes left me starring at the computer. We are suppose to believe there is actually an educated human brain behind decisions like this
Nevertheless there is logic in blocking the marijuana trade when it can be done. Every stash of the weed that police can confiscate is dope that won’t fall into the hands of the young people.
The use of cannabis for many is an open door to a life of addiction to hard drugs. The first few drags on a joint may seem harmless enough. But years later when the victim is hooked on cocaine or heroine
walking around in a haze, blurry eyed, wetting his pants, and with no job, trying to find somebody to hustle for the money from to get another fix, he’ll curse the good buddy who got him started on the weed.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (Diploma in Drug Studies)
First time caught? So what if he fully cooperated with the police? As one who is caught, he is obligated to cooperate with the police or else. Does he warrant a lesser sentence or a non-custodial one at that?
Keep committing crimes and then project to be remorseful. How many times do they say that? Such words are cheap.
How will he be able to pay the fine?
Whatever. What he did shouldn’t even be illegal in the first place. The sooner we stop wasting time on this nonsense the better.
Man the people in goverment gotta start thing of the future… you not going to stop people from smoking or buying ganja no matter what you do and chances are they won’t have money to pay the fine so they get locked up and then the state has to spend money to keep them locked up. Instead of letting that money go to waste how about you simply find a way to profit from it. Instead of banning how about to make it legal and tax it?! the profit would be tremendous, not to mention It has infinite uses, alot of the stuff we import can be replaced thus us spending less money on imported good. But this will never happen because the people who can make it happen are still stuck in the old way of thinking. and for those who say weed is bad…i smoke weed every single day. Morning noon and night, yet I graduated from college and I have a great job make a ton of money lol weed doesnt make people lazy, people simply choose to be.
I rarely comment on these things but if you juxtapose this sentence against the recent sexual assault sentence you must see the problem. The guy was clearly displaced from his home village and possibly his livelihood thanks to Erica..There is no work. Now the man have to pay 60% of the street value which Is a great mark-up from what he would have made. He should be punished yes but he pleaded guilty, you have the drugs now you want money from a man with none. Even $2000.00 immediately. Where is he going to get it? Also no previous convictions. How about a suspended sentence.
A man fine $6000 for ganja while another man walks free for cocaine? Dominica is so corrupt I guess is those who can afford justice are the ones who get justice. Seems like the rich man must prevail while the poor hungry gutt suffer. But guess what y’all can never stop a hungry farmer from trying
why are they stifling the youths..already the Ericka affected the guy’s area he needs income plus, he needs to meditate and free his mind from the injustice and delayed tatics of the regime in power…
totally unfair the guy should be given a warning..as soon the lambs bread will be accepted by all in society as it’s natural came from the heavenly father!!
Everything that grows came from the heavenly Father.
People forget because of sin God cursed the ground for man’s sake. Now it also produces poison ivy, and poison hemlock.
Everything that grows in the garden, field, forest, or wayside is not meant to be ate, chewed, drank, inhaled, or ingested. Some things are harmful. Other things have a practical use but it is not to give people a high! Some uses have not yet been discovered. When they are discovered it will be necessary to guard against abuse.
We’ve seen enough harm done by marijuana. Please stop touting that it is a ”herb” given by God until you can control the feel good sickos who use it gratify their inordinate desires.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (Diploma in Drug Use)
FREE UP THE WEED
Free up the weed. Yes, and lose the criminal element.