Two under aged boys, accused of entering the home of Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan with the intention to steal, told the court today that they had no one to stand bail for them.
Bail is open for the two accused boys. However, the court learnt that one boy’s mother was serving a prison sentence, and he had no contact with his father.
“His mother is in jail for him Your Worship,” Police Prosecutor Corbette informed Magistrate Ossie Lewis.
The boy recommended his father as a surety, but told the court that he had no number for his father and did not know where he could be found.
“You don’t have an aunt, an uncle … so how can I help you? The court system is overburdened. The court can’t help you … So society must look after this young man?” the magistrate remarked.
At that point, the boy blurted out that his godfather could help him.
The other alleged accomplice also told the court that he had no one to stand bail for him.
The two were ordered to find a proper surety who would attend court at their next appearance so the magistrate could determine their eligibility to stand bail.
The alleged offence occurred on January 6 at Astaphan’s St. Aroment home. The trial is on March 10, 2010.
Mr./Ms. VOICE OF THE INNOCENT…Where did you get your degree in Psychology? Please Sir./Madame,reread the rubbish you wrote about these kids…You must have perfect children,I wish them well,I know they will never make a mistake in their perfect life.
The man or woman or ‘juvenile’ that decides to break into my home better decide its there they staying becasue they will not leave that house of mine in one piece!
If they escape and make it to the road I will de’forse’ them and drag them back into the house and tell police they attacked me in my bedroom.
What the? I am not saying that the fellas were right but if it was my house they had broken into they would have gotten b ail.
have u ever come home and found your home broken into? you feel like someone has raped you. they trow all your clothes on the floor. your mattress is not on your bed,your kitchen is a mess, plates and glasses broken,all your underwear on the floor. i hope this happens to all of you who are supporting those criminals.
Well, it is quite amazing that so many have the solutions. Well then if you seem to have the solution like you all are the judge jury and the prosecutor then why not just help the kids, stand bail for them, ensure they do not repeat the crime or other crimes, ensure that they have the food and the things they need, ensure that they go to school and have the right education and influence and a proper home.
Don’t call on someone else if you know the answer. What other choice does the magistrate has when you were not there to stand bail for the kids? Where do they live? do you know? Granted the should not be in the same prison as the adult law breakers, but there is no juvenile center so what other choice, put them out on the streets so that they could break the law again. Think about it what if they are let loose and they go to the McIntyres or the Sorhaindos and somebody feel the need pull a gun and shoot them then what will you all say. Take it easy and just think. If you have the answer start working with those in authority.
I hope you people read your blogs to see how ridiculous you sound. Are we going to include politics in our everyday lives? Where has our lovely Dominica gone to? My guess is.. TO HELL IN A HAND BASKET.
we are quick to accused the court system but if they don’t stop these youth now; they will turn out to be the murderers, thiefs, rapist, drug dealers of tommorrow. They have to take responsibility for their own actions. Parents need to train them, raise, them bring them up what ever you call it in an orderly manner. They did not just become thiefs now,
Let us stop making that a political issue. They are juveniles yes but they must have learnt these from their homes. Now those of you who are talking be careful what you say; you have children too. When someone brings a complain about your child don’t just say they lie on my child. We tend to believe our children over those who bring the complains without weighing it out; when ur five year old child bring an eraser from school give it to him to take back to school or you can go with him. Stop encouraging ur childs bad habit and say he’s just a child. Teach them right and they will not grow up thinking that the world belong to them so they have to take it when they need it.
TEACH THEM A LESSON NOW AND THEY WILL NOT COME BACK TO THAT PLACE.
I very seldom disagree with the law,in the case of under aged children being held without Counsel,I must say that I’m very disappointed…My God,these kids has to remain incarcerated till March 10th…This is proposterous…Question:does any of you the Judges and law makers have children?These kids needs help,not to be locked away.Being in prison at such a young age will only make matters worst for these Children….They’re gonna become harden Criminals…Mr.Astaphan,I call upon you to do the right thing,come on Sir,be a hero to these kids,show the world what we Dominicans are made off…Remember Sir,what goes around,surely comes back around and some time it bites,very very hard,you may have to wear steal plates in your pants tail end.
Mr Seaman
i bet to defer why do you have to bring partisan politics into a national criminal matter —yow leave dem blue fellas out of that boy
Celus
January 29, 2010 • 10:45 pm
One thing that is sure to get some consensus is that we can make a serious attempt to create a juvenile center that aims to reeducate these youths away from incivility and try to reintegrate them.By turning our backs, we are just staving off the inevitable, that those kids are coming right back to our neighborhoods.We cannot guarantee total success but total failure is unacceptable!!!!!
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Co-sign 100%
The prime Minister should take note since everything seens to have the attention of him. The boys are under age… no councillling service for them ..what about the home for foster children??? The government to take charge of these boys immediately their lives are beening wasted . the authority need to step in now
i believe they did the crime they need to do the time the prison was not made for the good peoples
they wanted something that they didn’t put there well it considered breaking in and entering (he you use the sword will die by the sword)
One thing that is sure to get some consensus is that we can make a serious attempt to create a juvenile center that aims to reeducate these youths away from incivility and try to reintegrate them.By turning our backs, we are just staving off the inevitable, that those kids are coming right back to our neighborhoods.We cannot guarantee total success but total failure is unacceptable!!!!!
Dominica’s injustice system is slowly killing our young ones. It continues to take advantage of the weak young ones while those gros bougs go free. Those who commit bigger crimes or involved in corrupt practices do not even face the courts. Foreigners, like those in the Layou River Hotel fiasco who robbed the country of millions, others like the Venezuelans who were previously caught ,after long chase, in drug related incident, are free like birds. The boat involved in the drugs was even given back to them. Recently, twice another foreigner was caught, first going to mine stones in Coulibistri then was mining sand in Layou without Planning Division permission and was only stopped after protests from the communities. No talk of even court action. Those unscrupulous Dominicans, big wigs in authority who use public office to commit all sorts of crimes and illegal acts against the laws of Dominica go unpunished. But advantage is taken time and time again on the voiceless, the poor juveniles. Dominicans condone and support wrong done by the elite class, by politicians and friends of iniquity. But are quick to incarcerate our young ones for petty crimes. Condemn wrong-doing by juveniles, devise a better, more effective way to deal with and prevent those acts, but jail cannot be the best corrective measure. Too much injustice prevails. The young ones need guidance and the right to education. The youth are hearing of the crimes done by those ‘gros bougs’ and insincere leaders. Wrong is wrong. The next level will be a deeper entrenchment of injustice, and tolerance for elite crimes while our jails will overflow with juveniles. The vicious cycle continues.
Parents, Family,Friends unable to bail , well Senior Counsel can bail them.
People, are we missing the point here? Are you not listening to this? Where are the parents, the ones who are to be responsible for their children’s upbringing? Stop being political etc, the boys are better off in prison. There is a new reform program for juveniles there by the Dominica Institute of natural law. They use TM to offenders and train the prison officers as well. This is in conjunction with the Ministry of National Security, Immigration and Labour. This might just work for them instead of keeping them on the streets. Another way to look at it people!
Greetings in the name of my Master,Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,first let us take a good look at what is happening in the World today,Men are not taking responsibility for their Kids. some Women take no pride in who they have kids with,they only care about guys who flash money around.
They don’t care if they are drug dealers,Thief,law breakers,etc.they rather the shame than the glory.That why we have nobody to take care of this Kids.
It saddens me when this Children get into trouble,they are the future generation,when they all end in prison then what.Kids do what they see their Parents do,if their parents end up in jail,they think it’s cool to go to jail.they see their Father with a gun,they want a gun.and what is so sad is their Parents accept that.
I preach to kids like that all over New York,do you know what they say,if you have never been arrested,you are not cool.
Some of them say school is for fools,when I try to tell them that Rev.Dr.Martin L.King gave his life that we People of color can have a better life,some of them say that N***** was a fool.
Then there are those who can help but they just don’t care,this is the problem with some of us.
We abuse power and we call it politics,
We fail to discipline our Children and we called it self esteem,
We reward laziness and we call it a helping hand,
We forfeit the right of our grandfather and we called it ambition,
We support abortion and we called it freedom of choice.
Love and best wishes to all the kids,stay out of trouble,please don’t become the news,Jah bless.
website,http://rawlinspacquette.weebly.com
Dominica has become a lawless nation with very questionable decisions by some magistrates. People who are accused of commiting murder are out on bail. People who have resources to leave the island. People commit vehicular homicide and get three chances to do so. They are out of the system. People go free for killing others at their homes for what they say was unwanted sexual advances. YET two juveniles are unfairly punished … Is Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan the first or only victim of a home invasion? Is a home invasion such a brutal crime that it warrants no bail for two juveniles? Are these kids the only ones who have never been able to make bail? WTF??????
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I think the uwp should bail these kids
We really do need a a center for juveniles.
Totally agree..
We may need a detention centre, BUT, I believe prevention is better than cure. It is better to educate and teach people to work hard rather than teach them to beg, beg, beg and get money for free.
I warned them, and told them that this may happen when they are using walking sticks and cannot defend themselves, but apparently, it is happening faster than I thought. Teach the people to fish…….
We may need a detention centre, but it is more important to educate young persons and teach them to work hard rather than to beg, beg, beg and get things for free. I have warned them, to stop that dependency syndrome, teach the people to fish.
These youngsters have been reprimanded until their next hearing? -March 10th.
were these students? what sort of life have they been living? A closer look at the facts of this case may reveal that these boys need some genuine assistance with life’s basic needs (food, clothes, home, the right to an education).
If however they do have relatives who can’t tolerate them because of the young boys unwillingness to aspire to be good citizens, may I suggest that we relocate them at the juvenile camp in Londondary to see if they will find their good side while in the company of others facing similar difficulties.
If they are students, then imprisoning them is depriving them of the opportunity to continue their education. That cannot be helpful to any party involved.
I pray for all men that we will begin to take up the mantle and be the leaders that God has created us to be; LEADERS WHO fear and honor God’s word. Amen
thats pure abuse of the system, people charged for murder and they allow to get bail yet to black people children because they entered a so called prominent laywer home are refused bail… de system of wickedness.. Let me catigorically condemn the behaviour by the young ones but i beleive this is to severe
So there is no one for those boys, no guidance
No wonder they have started young into their business.
Again parents. Thats what we are lacking in D/ca
Teenagers just making children , leaving them to fight their own way.
Children start to steal people things, end up into the drug trade.
Parents, ….they need to take care of their love ones.
I would recommend that min MC intyre bail those boys. They have somethings in common.
Sad eh…i know people make mistakes, but they are juveniles. We should really look into building a juvenile detention center. It hurts my heart that these kids have to be placed with adults, some of whom will try to take advantage and provide no type of encouragement to be a better individual
I pray to win the lotto (that’s my only hope to have that much $$) as that would be my proposal to Government along with a rehab center.
We just need it.