Attorney General, Levi Peter, has said his office is reviewing a matter in which gun-related charges against a police officer were discontinued.
Peter told state-owned DBS Radio the case is “patently a matter of concern” and “should be concerning to any right-minded person.”
“What I can tell you is that the office of the attorney general is reviewing these matters…” he said.
The charges against police officer, Gerald Durand, were discontinued last Friday by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
In September 2012, 27-year-old truck driver Ashton Telemacque of Wesley was arrested when one sub-machine gun, 24 rounds of 9mm ammunition, four 12-gauge rounds of shot-gun ammunition and one .45 caliber ammunition were found at Wood Bridge Port in a vehicle he was driving.
He subsequently told law enforcement that the vehicle belonged to Durand.
Peter said it is very concerning when such matters are instituted against a police officer. “Equally it is concerning where a matter has been instituted against a police officer and are then discontinued,” he said. “All I can say to you is that the discontinuation of a firearms matter in respect to a police officer … is of concern to the attorney general.”
“As far as the attorney general and the office of the attorney general is concerned a police officer being found in possession of a submachine gun which by all accounts he was not authorized to have in his possession, a submachine gun belonging to the police which he was not authorized to have in his possession, is patently a matter of concern,” he said.
Constable Durand, along with sergeant Philbert Bertrand, was suspended from police duties by the Police Service Commission (PSC) in October 2012.
Bertrand has since received word Police Chief Daniel Carbon, that the police commission has given instructions that he (Bertrand) be asked to return to work.
I COULDNT AGREE MORE
cant we see the AG is lost and doesn’t know where to turn. Leave the officer alone and get a bail act and do it good, bail is becoming a joke now…
All you dp seeing the AG want to get attention… the man in show biz and because he not calling his cards right he like ah soowee (rat) hiding from cat so he must belch once in a while to get the cats attention… what ctu chute that nah…lmao
SO TRUE
It seems to me that the Minister of State and security, Police commissioner, DPP, The Attorney General, and The Police commission need to have some sort of protocol between them regarding a chain of command.The whole fiasco is a result of a break down in the the system not having in place a structure with a chain of command.
There is a right way and a wrong way to go about the business of Government. If two professional government offices like that of the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecution cannot sit down together and resolve a legal matter, then heaven help Dominica! You would think the AG, DPP, Minister of National Security and the Police Commissioner would be able to resolve this at a one hour meeting! That is how such national legal matters should be professionally handled. So why is the AG discussing an unresolved legal matter with the DPP in the media? What does he stand to gain? Is he trying to discredit the DPP?
Mr. Levi Peter Attorney General sir,you dont seemed to be aware that Constable Gerard Durand never cease to be a Police Officer. The gun in question belongs to the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica for which he is an employee. The gun in question is among others the tool of the job that he does and yes he had every god given right to have that said gun in his possession since some of his surpervisors were aware that he had it in his possession for years now. Mr AG sir, Police and Custom officers as long as they are serving/employed by the Government and a gun belongs to the Government their employer they dont need a permission/licence to hold such firearm(s).Mr AG sir where were you all the while that all forms of crimes and lawlessness were taking place for you to condemn them instead of commenting about water under the bridge now.
Was the country in any crisis at the time he had that sub machine gun and so much round of ammunitions in his possession ? I can understand any other weapon but not a sub machine gun.
Mr. AG, u should be able to stand ur grounds. So what is the other course of action with regards to Gerald Durand?
I agree with you
And if he were driving the vehicle and could show proper documentation that there were some “god given” (REALLY?)reason for him driving around with such weaponry you would have a point. It should be fairly obvious that it is AT LEAST unsafe to blithely drive around with such serious ammunition in one’s personal car, let alone allowing someone who else to drive it around!! It begs the question, “What was he up to??” This is not okay.
is not your damn business! what for u too be concerned of ur not.is not your damn business where the investigation going go to hell go to hell!
Seems like a personl problem, you don’t care that police guns are on the street…wow
Poor idiot did not get the humor
lololololololololol
My God ! Does these guys sleep at nights? For educate people each time they open their mouths is ‘dust’ that is coming from it. LORD have MERCY on Us
what happen u looking for some recognition or respect…….u want to put something on record that makes u look like u doing de People’s job?
what about my police officer friend who’s house was firebombed? U DOH CARE????
And former Chief Magistrate G.O.N firebombing matter?
when we in de public crying for ur intervention where u hiding?
u looking for us to cry out in support of ur call now???? and u cannot support our call…….
go get a bone, go fetch!!!!!!!!!!!
Not only does it not seem tha tHe cares but He spent time saying nothing about it .How come He talking now? Election really coming. I see the Commisioner want investigation too.
Lennox was calling like avoice in the wilderness for several investigations,all He got was Hishome raided by the same Police!
You decide!
Honestly , when the AG have his garbage speaking tell him whisper it to himself. we are just not interested when these so called state servants speak.the problem i have with these guys they are too dam selective on matters of concern to the citizens ,but again he is a political appointed i do not expect any different .
Thank you Mr. AG. Too much nonsense going on in Dominica. It’s time to put an end to the corruption that is going on.
My lawless, lawless little island…what a shame
What about the don emmanuel firebomb case ? What about the police man and family who was fire bombed? What about all the bobol so many more pressing matters that mister need to investigate
What for the AG to come and talk about he not talking about. All the murderers on bail and those that getting a slap on their wrist for all the big crimes. Crimes among members of the government. All the children that are sexually abused and cases being thrown out for all kinds of insane reasons and so much more crap that goes on in this country. Talk about THAT AG.
Don’t come on DBS talking about a hardworking police officer who made a mistake and went through the proper procedures to pay for it. Anyone who knows the facts of the case would know that the case was thrown out because there was no case! Give me a break!!
That’s true they are definitely hard working officers despite whatever petty issue rised up. I know they will continue to work hard also
AG AG Mr.AG what about the fire bombing of a senior magistrate!!!
I’m in full agreement with the “AG.” He is doing his job. Such case involving a “police officer” armed like a terrorist should not be brushed aside for any reason. Jump on the Judge’s back who set bail for these Drug dealers. The AG, Mr. Levi should be the PM. Let the man do his job! Dominicans are crying about the crime infestation, and when someone attempts to do something about it, they want to crucify the individual. This is why this country called Dominica is going down stream.
@Sato Sot
“The AG, Mr. Levi should be the PM”. Did you just say that? Are you living in Dominica? Are you serious? Lord have mercy on us ALL if you really believe in what you wrote.
“Change Must Come”
“Assertive NOT Agressive!”
Then the AG must do the same for all the other criminal cases that are flying through the windows back and front and upside down
your name speaks of your character!!
All well and good but why is He picking and choosing?
He must apply evenly without fear or favour and that is why He is getting this type of response
DA really need a new set of country leaders
Mr A.G
You seem to be very selective in your in deciding which cases should have public out cry. A police officer found with a machine gun, how did your office pursue the case. As usual a rush to judgement, forgetting the most important thing gathering evidence and proper investigation, so when the DPP comes to try the case, he has no choice but to dismiss.stop pretending like you not aware why the case was dismiss.
Cases that are done by the book like seco seko, you were of
a different opinion. SMH. Burning a house with two people inside, where is your out cry. Too much politics my friend.
Leave the man alone you mess up the case deal with it. Stop trying to paint a different picture.
On with the next.
All about politics. Do your jobs and you won’t have to
Levi stop being so irrational!
Why didn’t you voice your concern (I know you were not AG at the time by nonetheless you are a citizen) when a firearm was handed back to Bubbles before his case was called. People like you unfortunately have your own agenda. An investigation was conducted by the professionals, charges were laid and the DPP made his decision based on the evidence. Keep in mind that charges were laid simply to move the final decision away from the hands of the police who wanted to remain fair and independent in the matter.
Apparently it “appears” as if you have an ax to grind with the DPP
. Why don’t you call back the accuse Sarah-lynn Smith that was implicated in the murder of her children and try her to? You guys make me sick. Once MooMoos start talking it means that something funny is happening. The DPP is “acting” and doing a great job including the repatriating of Seco-Seko which I am certain some in authority are not happy about. Even you as the AG remained silent on the Seco and made no attempt to encourage the past DPP to get him back in the country. I find you all took time to start the attack…..
Matter of fact, as the AG if you disagree with a judicial finding / decision taken by a colleague you should have dealt with it behind closed doors before going public. Credible sources indicate that you have not done so.Just maybe you would have been very aware of reasons for the decision before going public with your “opinion”. My advice to you is back-off and do not attempt to tackle the DPP because his office is independent.
“Change Must Come”
“Assertive, NOT Agressive!”
Nothing mister doh have to do nuh? Isidore has 42 counts against him, work on that!!
I agree that this is a matter of grave concern but shouldn’t you also be concerned about the senior officer who shot a man from the back? And why sir didn’t you also join the people in seeking to find the truth about a certain French passport?
Only in Dominica. . .
The AG needs to focus on corruption in my administration.
that’s good…
Seems like a long list of words has been deleted from the Dominican dictionary. : fairness, firmness,law, justice etc. where have these words gone to?
Mr Attorney General are you not concern with the Gon Emanuel matter and the Steven Isidore matter too, all am seeing is pure hypocrisy coming fro your lips, pay close attention to the masive corruption fron Government Ministers and circles
In the last 10 years things have gone so terribly wrong in Dominica that we don’t even seem to be able to tell the difference between a right decision verses a wrong one. To me whenever the authorities cry foul on something it seems to be the right thing and when they are in support of something, it is usually wrong.
***ABOVE THE LAW***
Well Mr.AG
It’s good to know you are very alarmed by this unusual turn of events.
You have te power to make a change!! Now, let’s see what you’ll do about this.
I am so frightened and afraid with all those police officers involved in drugs and illegal firearms.
So is it any wonder why there is so much lawlessness in Dominica? The police officers who are supposed to be the law enforcers are the law breakers.
It is unbelieveable how double-standard the legal system is in Dominica. Sometime I get the impression that our system condems the innocent and exonerates the guilty.
Justice is the constant and perpetual will to allot to every man his due.
–Domitus Ulpian
I beg to propose that our national anthem should be change from Isle of beauty tune to the calypso ” Everything is upside Down , everything back to front pa pa bondiuer”
Here we go again. Nothing surprises me in this back to front, inside out, upside down country.
It’s a country where the rule of law is in tatters.
You get charged and convicted for a crime, based on your political colour,whether certain people love or hate you, based on who your father or mother is, based on whether a minister loves you or know you, etc etc,etc,
NO WONDER THE COUNTRY IS DO DAM POOR,STAGNATED AND BACKWARD.
Anyway Mr AG. I need to hear you on many, many many other matters,before I can get impressed with you.
A FAILED STATE!
can somebody send us in Dominica giant carpenter square and a huge scale at least one with the capacity the hold up that big bottom of the old speaker and to balance the things that are upside down and inside out- the scale will be stored at the house of parliament. The carpenter Square to straighten out the crookedness, lawlessness, money launderers. The Square will be stored first on the Villa compound, then ministry of finance then in the chambers of senior counsels, then at police headquarters, Roman catholic church and at the house of a certain evangelist.
ok Mr. Levi, now i want to know, what steps can the office of the Attorney General take. in order to deal with the situation and maintain law and order in a transparent manner….
I agree with the AG. The matter is serious enough to warrant questions related answered.