Magistrate Ossie Lewis is expressing frustration over the lack of Chinese interpreters available to the court.
Lewis calls the situation a “serious loophole” and says the court system is being “stallified” by the unavailability of Chinese translators making it difficult for the court to proceed even in the simplest of matters involving Chinese nationals.
The matter arose when the only English to Chinese interpreter on island took the stand early Tuesday morning before Magistrate Lewis at the Roseau Magistrate Court to offer her services in a matter involving Chinese national Alleyne Wang who is charged with battery and malicious damage.
The matter has been ongoing since 2009, adjourned several times ever since and have not been heard due mainly to the lack of English to Chinese (and vice versa) interpreters. And compounded by the non-appearance of lawyers or witnesses at other times.
“I can only come here when my boss permits,” the only Chinese interpreter available on island responded when asked about her absence from the court previously after being notified.
“Under what conditions do we get this woman here?” Lewis asked in frustration.
“It seems like we will have to bring your boss here, tell him you are obstructing the course of justice and charge him,” Lewis added.
But it was a problem which Magistrate Lewis saw not in the interpreter but as an endemic weakness in the Dominican court system.
“Only one person who can translate from Chinese to English and we have hundreds of Chinese here,” Lewis told the court indicating that “the administration of justice in this country needs to get its act together”.
“Tomorrow a Greek defendant comes to court and what do I do?” Lewis added, pointing out that the court needed to adjust and “modernize” to the multi-lingual society that Dominica has become.
Police prosecution also shared some of the concerns of Magistrate Lewis indicating that international human rights regulation required that “one must be tried in a language that they can understand”.
The trial involving Wang was pushed to later in the year due to the absence of his lawyer today.
The court has entered into an arrangement with the interpreter to assure her presence and expertise when it is necessary.
To DNO
I see you took pleasure in wiping out my comment.
Did it come to near to the truth? I do not think it was that bad. I was only trying to help.
domicans be ware the chines will take over [will] it”s just a matter of time, dominica is a wonderfull island and the chines know it,.i think i the judge put her in prison till she get an interpreter she will be able to suddenly speaking english , and even patios immediatly, this people dont like blake people they will smill in your fave and stabb you in the back.the mutiply like rabbit and drain all of the island resources,. we shuold have a qouta of how many chines we let in dominca has become the dumpping ground for hatient, chines the domincan repuplic, wake up people and take your message to the street peacefully, and let your poltcians know howe you feel.
A little spelling classes would do.
Wonderful
Chinese
immediately
black
smile
face
stab
should
quota
dumping
Dominican Republic
politicians
how
Please do not say you are Dominican and spell like this. It will send a negative image across the world. Please learn to spell. Thanks.
Lighten up dude. Not all of us are perfect like you. English is not the main language for all of us, but that shouldn’t limit us in attempting to communicate.
As long as you understand the message being communicated, relax, and remember spelling is not a criterion for being Dominican.
إن شاء الله
There isn’t only one person in Dominica who can interprete/translate chinese. The question is are they willing to seek out and put forward the remunerations for people who do the services? The state has developed this attitude that you are obligated to do things for them free of charge, not even wanting to give you a glass of water in compensation muchless for a monetary payment. The State should see it fit to employ people in those fields, not just limited to the chinese language, so that when the need arise they will be available. You can’t just walk up to a person now for now and tell them go to translate whether they have the ability or not. It needs mental preparation and a general briefing on the subject matter at hand. I used to offer my services but when they made it seem like it is my civic duty I resigned my services. Excuse me but nothing is free these days, you want the service pay for it. They have money to do all kind of coshonie and a little payment they cannot make to a person after they waste their whole day standing up in a court? stupes…. girlfriend you do right….let them pay us and we will do the job.
DE CHINA-MAN AGAIN. DIS TIME FRUSTRATING DE JUDGE. EATING A CHINESE EGG ROLL COULD CHANGE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TO A CHINESE VERNACULAR. TRY DAT ONE, YOUR HONOUR!
in every chinese store in dominica that u enter, dominicans speak english, the chinese understand and reply in english. they all speak our language ,but in court they dont understand, RUBBISH!!!!
so who say them chinese cant speak english go in there store n u will find out tricks. throw them in jail bad they bad if it ws one of us that commit a crime in china u think they would wait for a translator our a** wuda been in jail long time. tell skerrit go translate for them n whiles he at it translate d m.o.u he sign 1 time.because we need a translator too.
Dominica is a small place to have interpreters for every language
Pure Rubbish? The girl is a slave ner? Just now the court will just call me and tell me come and work my profession for them just like that man. The man doing like the girl owing them to translate for them. Stupes… In slavery people force people to do what they don’t want to. If the girl doesn’t want to come why the hell does she have to… call her what you like… Ossie child he send and study that man… or the court that putting food on her table?
But how many children skerrit send to china and they cannot get translators? There should be a wave of people who can speak chinese!
But how many children Skerrit send to study in China and
Who do you think will end up paying for these translators? Another drain on resources. Dominica should treat non-Dominican criminals the same as other countries and return them to their countries of origin. No need then for translators.
The Chinese will see their slow inflitration into other countries as a means of getting rid of their ‘undesirables’, using the umbrella of providing their own workforce.
This is when the selling of Dominican passports – legitimate or otherwise – becomes dangerous and this should be stopped.
Dominicans haven’t begun to feel the wrath of Chinese yet. I have never seen a people who are complacent about everything. They don’t strike, Dominicans love their economy and everything the way it is. They are the most hypocritical people I’ve ever come across. Negativity is their middle name and all they can do is mind people’s business, gossip and slander.
All civilized nations striking and fighting for their rights, Egypt, Greece, Yemen, Libya, all the world strikes all over the place because people fed up with the nonsense, in Dominica our people are complacent.
27 million dollars state malice = no response
VAT suppose to reduce cost of living = no response when prices went up
Petro Caribe suppose to bring down light = no strike to lower light bill
Increase cost of living – no increase in salaries = no strike
Selling of passports indiscriminately = no strike
You know why these cowards afraid to strike? They are afraid of death because they are so pagan in their ways sewo sewo sewo like donkeys. Dominicans do not think of their children and grandchildren, all they think of is their stomach and private parts…What a disgrace to be a Dominican! Dominicans rise up, you are not living in peace, you are living in oppression!
Practically all developed countries possess an international airport, these dama**** say we don’t need one.
Trinidad, Barbados and other countries are selling Fruta and box drinks to our shores yet we hardly manufacture anything for ourselves. Dominicans are so backward they crying banana like a**holes. All these illiterates have to do is use the banana for secondary production like box drinks etc.
You cannot depend on tourism as these white pricks can stop coming, we need more sustainable development like our manufacturing industry. We have no vision as a people thus we have perished. Our people are not aware, just following Skerrit like a sheep to be slaughtered. A begging country is a dam prostitute and will always be subservient to another. Dominica has become a failed begging state with a high import bill. Dam jacka****.
Dominicans are just dumb illiterate fools…Many are brainwashed and all they can do is sewo like jacka**** (hee hor hee hor)
Kick those filthy Chinese out, take back our country and tap into our people abroad to invest into manufacturing industries. You even have Chinese battering people in their own country? Chinese eat dogs, they are what they eat!!! Chinese are depleting our resources…they are the scum of the land, they do not contribute economically, kick them out…their influx is a disgrace, we do not need Chinese, use them for the projects, give them their vote in the UN for their One policy China-Taiwan policy then kick these atheists ungodly people from the country.
Dude you are one agry muslim. Often times you enter the forum preaching religion or must I say islam. Now you are preaching hate and racism. I can only conclude that you are a bigot and hypocrite.
As a dominican I am disgusted by your comments.
Of course I am angry, Dominicans getting me vex man with their laid back attitude. In America, this congressman was involved in scandalous behavior, he resigned under pressure, in Australia and other countries these politicians resign, only in Dominica these politicians do all this sh*t then continue to stay in power.
Yes, I do not support what Chinese are doing here. They are depleting the reserves of the ECCB. You’re talking about bigotry and racism, can’t you see Chinese are exploiting our Dominican workers? They are getting concessions on the port, Chinese are crooked business people. They are not honest people and they sell inferior quality. However, you are too foolish and blind to see these basic realities. People like you will sit in a corner and support all the filth that is going on, what a sack of sh*t you uphold. Do you see Chinese contributing to our economy? They are a liability and you are so retarded you can’t see that. It’s Dominicans like you who are a hindrance to development and progress because you fail to fight for what is right.
You are disgusted by my comments but I am disgusted by your lack of vision and foresight. I do not hate Chinese as a race of people, that would be very backward and foolish but I do not support their activity here pure and simple.
well said my brother,i couldnot have said it better,preachon brother, we are all dumbinacan,whhat can we do what shall we do help us father,guide us father! peace and love
Dude again you portrait hate and intolerance. If you think that I am a labor party sycophant go to DNO archive and you will see that I am a big opponent of the government and it’s policies so if you are defending your despicable behavior or comments by smearing party politics you have obviously lost your marbles.
Maybe you need to review your first comment and be humble or manly to retract those racial epithets and derision that you expressed- “ White pricks, and filthy Chinese”. This is unwarranted particularly in this time when we are all fighting against oppression, racism and stereotyping. Honest peaceful and loving muslins are fighting for the right to not be stereotyped as terrorist or only to be heavily scrutinized just because of your d taqiyah or keffiyah scarf.
Racism is ugly and distasteful so much so that the indelible memories of racism is unpleasant and demeaning to mankind. The very things that you rant and rave about can be found in all races – crookedness, filthiness, deceitfulness, whatever is common to all people.
I choose to take the high road and to stay away from insults. I do hope that the good word and ways of the prophet Mohammed will find it’s way through your heart and banish this anger and hate that carry.
See the length of your writing and you complain when others writings are long? Do so never like so, eh?
This is a typical example, allow others to provide their opinions. The Golden Rule.
Dont be fooled by the Chinese they understand English. Most schools in China teach English in addition to Mandarin and Cantonese. The Chinese are rude everywhere they go. Especially with Black people. They think we are beneth them. I only pray that Dominica will wake up and stop the take over of its country before its too late. Dont become another Nigeria. They let the Chinese is in with cheap everything and now the nigerian business men have not business. SMH
i do know why mr bring thos kind of people here them man run all them spanish woman and bring a bunch of xprisoners here.
Simply pay for and train police officers to read/write the most popular languages, Spanish, French, Chinesse (mandarin, portuguese, arabic etc. How can authorities effectively investigate crime or follow leads if their is a language barrier, that puts them at a disadvantage. Every new recruit should know at least 1 second language even if its patois. Ever heard of Rosetta Stone?
Dat is d court problem,y they not hinding one interpretter ?
i know they can get 2 brothers and a sister in picard possie pay them they will do the job
True. We have many young persons of chinese parentage who have been locally educated.
Here is a simple solution: If they can’t find someone to translate in the courtroom, lock them up and see how fast they will get a translator to get them out of prison.
If you don’t play hardball, they will continue to “speak and understand English” when it’s convinient to them.
What a bloody disgrace!! What? Do the authorities believe that the Chinese will never commit any crimes or do they hold the stance that they should never be prosecuted??…hence no need for officially appointed interpreters???? Who translates for them if they have to go to the hospital…the bank….???????
They can get interpreters but are they will ing to pay the price?
That’s just a tip of the iceberg of things to
come.The chinese have us by our B*lls
mr lewis i understand ure frustration and feel ure pain but maybe you should consider learning the language so you will need no interpreter.we are fast becoming a chinese state whether we like it or not.thats part of the next level
u really made me laugh thats a black chinese man some ting wang.
The court system got to many loop holes. We might as well throw the system in the sea to catch some balaw because the court system has more holes than a balaw net.
Anyway I will offer my help in translating mandarin or Cantonese.
Fwi Wyse – fried rise
Choi min – dog meat
Fan chu yo – kick their A****
Pa ca ju – cheap radio that’s not playing
Nu wuk pu yo – No jobs for locals
Bwa ba yo- wood on Dominicans
MOU yu wang- memorandum of understanding all you want.
Gi mi pang pu – I want a passport
Ayaaa pu yo- allah poor Dominicans
Chines Translating services
P.O Bos
Portsmouth
Dominica
Tel 字字汉字漢字
you are so funny. love it
Portsmouth Jacki Cha, You are the best you have me cracking to tears. lol
hahahahahahahaha
You made my day with this one!!!
Porssie radical I cyan believe they have all kind off embassadors and they doh make you Dominican embassador to china- Yes I
ROFL thank you for several good laughs
That is SO TRUE!!!
And the lawyer has seen a loophole upon which to trample in this matter.
What are we even doing with Chinese in Dominica? so the state must waste further resources to get people trained to speak a language they have no ties too? Would you be that frustrated if someone from Comoros Islands,Sudan or Tanzania came before you?
Throw them in jail plain and simple you can tell they doing the crime. Black people always ready to bend over for some other set. Steupes
you are a jackass. doesn’t seem like if you have ever been any further than scott’s head and cabrits.
Why doesn’t Skerrit come in and translate for them after all he must speak chinese to be able to read and sign the Memoradum of understand that is distroying my people, so since we are becoming a Chinese state he should be speaking their language what a mess we find ourselves in.
Well, Dominica has Chinese people and some of them will have babies born in Dominica. Dominica will need Chinese interpreters. This is a new phase of life in Dominica. You better get accustomed to it.
I wonder what is really in your head????? while the teacher was infront the blackboard teaching it look like you were at the back…..
lol all you to stupid..what happen to all them student that go china and study,why all you cannot employ them,all you think they cannot speak chinese…doe worry wait for me i go come tranlate for all you i soon done up here…xie xie
How much of them that already graduate and return home since the programme started??? Probably less than 5. Think the first big batch of graduates are returning this year.
and he has the ability to push the case back till he finds one what a dumb@$$ judge
This article makes good sense to me. Chinese interpreters to English are badly needed in Dominica. In this case Dominica needs to be modernize.
The Chinese government should be able to supply one or two interpreters since it sends so many of its nationals to work in Dominica.
Did China ever consider that its nationals would be involved in altercations with Dominica nationals and vice versa?
The Dominican government will have to advertise for relevant interpreters. I am certain that there are many of them in the world and who may not be employed for that matter.
If the government places an advertisement and receives responses for the position, the authority concerned must investigate them prior to accepting them for employment and residency.
Maybe Skerrit should start interpreting for the chinese.
skerrit my foot u do see what the man negoshiate for us
so many Chinese, let them offer language classes like the Venezuelan institute and alias francais does. I would be the first to register.
But again, them Chinese bad-mind, don’t think they want the locals to understand what they are talking about..so that is where the Dcan-Chinese grads come in!
u are so very true about them bad mind people they are so very rude in our country
In time, rest assured that Chinese language will be taught in Dominica. It is only a matter of time.
I would not call of them bad-mind and that they do not want the locals to understand. They may be happy that the locals can understand them.
Learning a different language helps communication between people. In that way they will be able to understand each other.
In time, the locals will understand Chinese in the same manner the locals as I learned Patois/Creole language, just by hearing it spoken and, in those days, we did not learn it in school. So did other Dominicans.
Knowing a little bit of the Chinese language may be sufficient and will be helpful to locals.