Do not associate with gangs, stay in school and get involved in social clubs, was the advice handed down by Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste, who represented the judicial service at the just concluded panel discussion on crime hosted by students in the Journalism Club of the Dominica State College.
“You have a responsibility to do the right thing,” the magistrate said.
Other panelists included Police Prosecutor and Public Relations Officer (PRO) Claude Weekes, Head of the Evangelical Churches Randy Rodney and the Bishop of Roseau, Gabriel Malzaire – all of whom gathered at the forum to address the causes and possible solutions to the crime situation. Magistrate Tyani Behanzin was also expected to be a part of the council.
The initiative was held at the Public Service Union Training Center on Valley Road, Roseau.
In addressing the scores of high school and college students present, Chief Magistrate Baptiste explained that the purpose of the court system is to foster the rehabilitation rather than the punishment of criminals.
She said that although punishment is important, so is the process of rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, police spokesman Claude Weekes says he is appalled at the fact that, statistically, criminals are not deterred by the likelihood of capital punishment.
Questions posed to the panel touched on the religious influence on crime, capital punishment and its influences as a crime deterrent, and the fact that murder is a bail-able offence in Dominica.
The event, which started at about 11 am, ended sometime around 1:30 in the afternoon. The forum opened with a video montage of several crime scenes and pictures of victims who have died over the past months.
Most featured were the photographs of the high profile deaths of Omara Small, aka Mwanga, and the Vigilant sisters – five-year-old Rachel and two-month-old Sophia.
According to the students of the DSC Journalism Club, “The main purpose of the panel discussion is to raise greater awareness among the youth of Dominica of the negative impact of crime and violence on their very existence and to sensitize them to the need for proactive action in dealing with this scourge.”
@Valda Bruno Durand
We did try to get at least one prisoner on the panel but we couldn’t because the prisoner might have been in danger of serious verbal abuse from the public…..however we did actually think of getting a prisoner on the panel.
@VALDA BRUNO DURAND: Don’t you think attempts were made for that to materialise? Unfortunately, it was not possible.
@Muslim_Always: Saddened by the reality of what you are saying.
Congratulations to the teacher and students of the DSC for organising the forum. At DSC we have a social responsibility also. Go ahead Ms Riviere and student.
And while some young people trying to be positive, some at the Stadium fighting.
good points and the details are more specific than somewhere else, thanks.
– Thomas
Chief Magistrate is lying, prisoners do not go through any rehabilitation, they go through abuse. There is a lot of homosexuality, prisoners with prisoners, officers with inmates. This is what goes on in the prison. Some of the officers take from the food sent for the prisoners. A lot of filth goes on there. This is not mere speculation but a reality.
There are laws regarding the rights of prisoners in our consitution. There are many prisoners who do not get sufficient or no medical attention at all. For e.g when a prisoner gets a toothache, that prisoner may suffer for days before getting assistance with this. We have an oppressive wicked system. Many go to church with a bible under their arm but are very evil. It’s a shame!
@VALDA BRUNO DURAND: RIGHT ON
keep beating round the bush, while the future criminals are being neglected or abused. tahts right they are in preschool, elementary and high school. what can be done let me think think think, should i educate through different programmes, ummmm let them be awered that there are recources that are being offered. invest money insuch areas…………………. family court? give me a BREAK
CONGRATS TO THE DSC STUDENTS BUT WRONG PANNEL ALL THEY GOING TO DO IS SPECULATE, GET THEM PEOPLE THAT STOCKFARM THAT COMMIT THE CRIME TO BE ON THE PANNEL TO TELL US WHY THE HELL THEY DO IT.
its time our authorities do something about crime in the nation