Apart from a few matters being discontinued, all public officers who faced charges under the Integrity in Public Office (IPO) Act for failing to declare their assets by a specific time, presented not guilty pleas when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste this morning.
Their trials have all been adjourned to dates early in 2011.
In August this year, these persons were served with charges brought on by the Director of Public Prosecutions Gene Pestaina upon the instruction of the Integrity Commission.
The charges state that the defendants allegedly failed to furnish declarations for the period ending December 31, 2010. Most of these declarations had to be filed between January 1 and March 31, 2010.
An arrest warrant has been issued for government Senator Bentley Royer, who failed to appear in court today. His matter has been rescheduled for January 18, 2011.
Meanwhile, United Workers Party Leader Ronald Green and Acting Medical Officer Dr. Griffin Benjamin narrowly escaped arrest warrants, which had already been issued for them, after they failed to appear when their names were called. They subsequently appeared and presented excuses to Magistrate Baptiste who accepted and adjourn their matters.
Speaker of the House Alix Boyd-Knights, who was represented by lawyer Heather Felix-Evans, will re-appear on April 18, 2011 for trial.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of DBS Radio Aurelius Jolly, former UWP Leader Earl Williams, government Senator Bentley Royer, Brian Vernon Bynoe, Carl Duncan, Dorian Shillingford, and Julietta Shillingford-Tonge were all absent for the hearing. Their trails were adjourned nonetheless.
The offense carries a maximum penalty of $20,000 or two years imprisonment.
Matters against former UWP Senator Marcel Nicholas, Nicholls Esprit, Director of Telecoms Sylvester Cadette, Dr. Gerald Grell, Eleanor Lambert, Dorian Shillingford and Sylvester Vital were discontinued upon requests from the prosecution. Nicholas was represented by Heather Felix—Evans. Kondwani Williams stood for Nicholls Esprit and Lennox Lawrence for Sylvester Cadette.
Government Senator Tammy Jean-Jacques, who claimed to be ready to proceed with trial when her charge was read, later asked for an adjournment. So did Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence. Baptiste granted their requests. Jean Jacque’s matter was adjourned to May 5, 2011 while Lawrence’s will re-appear on March 28, 2011.
Former parliamentarian Urban Baron’s trial was adjourned to April 18, 2011.
Chief Fisheries Officer Andrew Magloire, who had originally pleaded guilty to the offense, later changed his plea and his trial was set for May 5, 2011. Former police prosecutor Antoine Defoe called on the court to withdraw the matter against him when the prosecution said that it was not ready to proceed with the matter.
“Four months the prosecution had to prepare for this matter… I ask that the matter be withdrawn,” he stated. Baptiste however, did not fulfill that request when Norde told the court that a key prosecution witness – a secretary at the Integrity Commission – had been on a extended leave and had not yet been briefed.
“How long is it going to take to brief a witness? I have been a court prosecutor for a number of years and ….it is not going to take the court more than 15 minutes,” Defoe argued.
Baptiste adjourned the matter to May 5,2011 on the grounds that it was a serious and relatively new matter.
Senior Physical Planner Kelvin Rolle, who also faces charges, will re-appear in court on that date for trial date.
Deputy Leader for the UWP Claudius Sanford’s matter was adjourned to April 7, 2011. He was represented by David Bruney.
Wayne Norde represented the prosecution.
RUN RUN RUN RUN GREEN LIKE EARL WILLIAMS DID AND NEVER TO RETURN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OK
Look like the whole of UWP will reach Stockie before Skerrit and dem labourites. Skerrit declare his asset, why macho Green could not declare his asset too?
I sure the IPO knows Skerrit’s asset and the villas not in it, but the IPO don’t know macho green own. Is it that he is afraid to declare?
complete waste of the Courts and individuals time and money. Investigate and prosecute where it really counts.
give skerrit a break, he declared all his asset already. This man is a genuine man with the people interest at heart and so too dominica. Some people are just being byass and haters.
Mr. Skerrit we are praying for you. May God Bless You always
@Diasporan back a yard: gimme a break!! adhere to rules? did you hear the story about what happened when he was to be served on the matter to do with interfering with the work of the electoral commission?
truth be told …..when the guns have stopped blazing……my PM is afraid of the court…..plain and simple……..and one has to wonder why…………i regret i vote labour…………..but it too late now……..
People, people people. The lot of you seems to be clouded by personal hatred.
It is typical of the working class to worry about what the upper class are doing or not doing.
The point is they have not filed on time, so they should pay the fine and stop wasting tax payers money. I’m sure that those of the working class have filed and payed their taxes.
All those not mentioned must have filed on time. As for asking to see the files of those who have filed on time, I have never heard such nonsence.
You the people of Dominica MUST shoulder the blame for all the unjust on the island. The
majority of people here are suffering from tunnel vision and selective hearing. You see what you want to see and listern to only what you want to listern to.
If the crime/act is being committed by someone you favour, then to close your eyes and ears.
Wake up and stop acting like dumb and blind sheep. Only you can turn things round. Stand up for what is right, demand action and results when something is wrong. Stop saying ‘papa I dont want to get involve’ and then start shouting you mouths off when someone else makes their stand or has their say.
Remember failure to file assets/taxes is not a criminal act, but a civil one and one that is being committed against the people of Dominica, Remember it is your money that the court is wasting.
Eddo and Mr Greeno are good parls, Eddo fixed his business. So he couldn’t remind Mr. Greeno
like wise? The guy almost got arested.
The owner of the Villas they need to check, why? He cann’t give an account of his business, then the secret will jump out of the bag!
REAL NONSENSE….THIS COUNTRY IS A JOKE, THE IPO IS A JOKE AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A JOKE…What about those with the villas,and apartments,,,What about those with money like tower….THIS COUNTRY IS A FAILED STATE…EVERYTHING IS UPSIDE DOWN.!!!!
Well atleast it good to see the law going after the big guys them for a change….we’ve been asking for this.
THESE CASES ARE NOT GOING ANY WHERE, BECAUSE THE DEFENDANTS ARE ASKING TO SEE THE RECORDS OF ALL WHO HAVE SURRENDED THEIR ACCOUNTS TO THE IPO.
THERE ARE SOME WHO HAVE NOT SENT IN THEIRS AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SUMMONS. SO WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER.
@honest lady: literaly
That integrity in public office act is just pure…! Why don’t they come together and work towards building the country and its economy instead of trying to bring each other down so badly!? NONESENSE!!!!
Let the whole Labour party declare there assets………as they are the leaders and the others are follwers…..set an example Skerrit and the rest will follow…cha……….too much corruption inthis place……
well well, oh my how the tables have turned. the pit u dig for ur neighbour u will fall in it. and the evidence clearly shows that.
all the people that calling for jail the pm getting their share right now. so people lets wish god for our neighbours and enemies, and God will show us some mercy.
The is such a joke! Alas poor us with the juju that going on in Dominica.. grason just declare Dominica a failed state and call it a day! All you have been with tens of millions of unaccounted property and not doing a d@@M about it and all you have the audacity to file charges aganist people that file late?? What all you conscience telling all you? What ever happened to the concept of ethics and morality in Dominica? What about reason and logic? Or principle? What about justice and fairness and equity under the law? What about the idea, the fact that no one is above the law in Dominica? What has Dominica come to? I am so ashamed to be a Dominican right now!
@Watcher: but my friend it seems u learn a new quote wii pal,,,,now i checking on e’re post u typing the same ending,,,,,u well happy u get a new quote,,,,i cannot imagine how u felt when u break ur virgin wii pal lol!!!!!!
@Observer: Why should the Prime Minister be arrested if he has not been served. If he has not been served simply means that he has declared his assets…Isn’t this exemplary that others should follow. He may have his faults but he adhered to the rules and others should adhere to the rules too. Good work Mr. Prime Minister
Were these people sufficiently acquinted with the IPO Act and their responsibility to declare their assets. etc. and the timeframe in which to do so…what a waste of tax payers money! It seems that even the court system and the police/public prosecutors are ill prepared to deal with the IPO in an efficient and effective manner. Another day off (in court) for public servants. What about an Integrity In Private Office Act… for all those money launderers and different colour crimminal professionals… this country must wake up and smell the coffee… we do not have the resources but we use them in all the wrong places…all the time, every time
Raymond Lawrence of all people all you arresting. And he still there making Dominica look good for Independence. He does not have any assets, because he just working his butt out for the Kunt..tree
@Watcher: what HATE are you tlking about. so whenever someone has questions or is skeptical about someone’s integrity they hate tht person, even if ther is a thousand and 1 reasons tht justifies these concerrns. stop your nonsense. stop talking like a child.
@Observer: @haha: ???? What has the PM done to you all that you hate him this way? It would seem that you both have the facts and you have not even understood that since he was not one of them charged that he filed on time. Haters do you want Mr Norde’s and Baptiste’s position? If you cannot say good about someone then say nothing (shut up). The same measure that you judge will be the same one used against you.
Time will tell
Small island politics in its classic form. Lets see how far they’ll go.
go arrest skerritt
@Way Way: I Concur!
Hmm, the judicial system in Dominica never cease to amaze me. Why is the PM not one of those on that list to be arrested or sermoned. He is a lot of questionable assets
Look like nuff people who want to see the supremo in Stokie will reach there beore him. LOL.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, who for them to arrest they r not doing it