Men fined for marijuana

Two men who pleaded guilty to drugs possession have been slapped with fines by Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste this week.

Bus driver, 36-year-old Cheddy Joseph, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis after members of the Drug Squad on Saturday October 13 searched his bus HA604 and found a small quantity of the illegal drug.

Joseph told the court that he was the father of nine children and though his lawyer Peter Alleyne begged for mercy, he was fined $900 to be paid by March 2013 or spend six months in jail.

In another matter, 47-year-old Kenneth Romain Jno. Baptiste of Dubique, who pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession with intent to supply 300 grams of the illegal drug, was slapped with a fine of $5,000.

Reports are that the police, armed with a search warrant, went to his home at around 5:30 am on Saturday Oct 13, and demanded that he open the door.  Jno. Baptiste refused and the lawmen had to force their way into the house.  When asked about the drugs which was discovered in room, he responded, “a small weed that there to smoke.”

In mitigation Jno. Baptiste apologized for his actions and behaviour. “I have seven children to care for they are all at school … things are rough with me,” he said.

Not impressed by his excuse Magistrate Baptiste labeled his actions a “a very poor example.”

“See what’s happening with drug users … they are suffering, they are angry. You are a big man and people like you are the ones contributing to the social breakdown in society, you can do better, there’s a lot of political breakdown in society and you can do much better,” Baptiste stated.

Jno Baptiste was fined $2,000.00 for possession and given March 1, 2013 to pay up or in default, spend seven months in the slammer. He was also fined $3,000.00 for possession with intent to supply to be paid also by March 1, 2013 or spend  eight months behind bars.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

58 Comments

  1. Cassandra
    October 19, 2012

    weed help my mom live live seven years longer than they saidwhen they said you have cancer and six months to live im in canada and you can get weed from your doctor and it helps people with a lot of differnt things

  2. catto
    October 18, 2012

    Freedom is a must! I smell a revolution. Grand bay again.

  3. WAITUKUBULI!
    October 18, 2012

    :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: :?: I am not saying marijuana should not be legal or decriminalised as it’s a herb put on earth by the creator.But guys like Kenneth is no good example to his village, community and Waitukubuli on a whole.All these guys are doing is put women and children in misery and poverty.Even if he should be given all the wealth of the world,check his lifestyle and you all will see if it’s any good that this man is to the world :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen:

    • Justice and Truth
      October 19, 2012

      We call them good for nothing. They bring others down to the gutter with them; those whom they influence and are too weak to resist their so-called friendship.
      It is a wasted life on earth to eternity forever. They need to turn their life around before it is too late for them in eternity.

  4. bougla
    October 18, 2012

    What a waste of time for everyone. Are there not more important issues to deal with.

    • Justice and Truth
      October 19, 2012

      This is an important issue, disobeying the Law and defying it. Therefore, the Law is obligated to deal with them. There is no other way out for them. Surely, you should comprehend it. Do you not want a law-abiding society and a safe one?

      • Anonymous
        October 19, 2012

        some law just waist tax payers money weed never hurt anyone asca matter of fact when the doctor told my mom she had cancer and six months to live we gave her weed and lots of it she lived seven years longer and the only thing the doc said is it had to be the weed that kept her going

  5. Annon
    October 18, 2012

    Decriminalize marijuana, like St.Vincent did. Very few of their youth are in their jails, compared to D’a it’s a success story.

    The judges would like to do a better job but their hands are tied by a stupid law. The police take the easy road percicuting marijuana; which leaves them with little resources to go after hard drugs that’s taken over the island with big money. …Oh I just got it, big money is key. That’s sad. Decriminalize marijuana.

    • Justice and Truth
      October 19, 2012

      St. Vincent decriminalized marijuana, no doubt, against the objections of many nationals. It is nothing to be proud of. Do governments ever listen to the people, the majority as they make a further mess of the economy?
      So they are free to grow it, go about smoking it and trading in it to whosoever they will and whoever will purchase it from them, be it the youths?
      The youths are not in jail but take a look at them. What do they look like? Are they better off being free to walk around smoking marijuana? Are they employed? What are they contributing to the good of society?
      Some months ago, one morning at 2:00 am, the DA police caught two nationals and a Vincentian (if I recall) transporting marijuana. St. Vincent is probably one of the main countries which illegally export marijuana to Dominica and elsewhere.
      Let me further inform you, governments that decriminalized such drugs which destroy the health of people and could cause their early demise are going down slippery slopes. This includes legalizing other immoral laws. They are not far from arriving down the slippery slopes with one foot in the grave in Hell and one foot out; they are almost inside it. They are unable to curb murders and other big-time crimes and they decriminalize marijuana? God will hold them accountable. Woe to them!

  6. Anonymous
    October 18, 2012

    Money donor come easy

  7. show boat
    October 17, 2012

    Marijuana is not a bad thing unless you overdo like any drug including alcohol. He should not be fined or charged. He should be sent for 3 months repercussion etc; classes at the school of the unsong hero.

    • show boat
      October 17, 2012

      correction: should not be fined or jailed.

    • Justice and Truth
      October 17, 2012

      You fail to comprehend or are you ignoring the fact that marijuana is illegal. It is the Law of the land. Those who disobey the Law will bear the consequences. There are no ifs and buts. The Law is the Law. Make no excuses for those who are non-law abiding. It is time that they learn a lesson.

      • Rastar-Marn
        October 18, 2012

        You Fool-ish??? as You appear to fail to comprehend what Law is and what the Law Forms are,,, generally speaking what these dudes call Law of the land this day started with natural Law, then they take what they wanted to create Laws of Moses, then to Canon Law, then to Uniform Commercial Code, then to Statute, Code, Rules and Regulations, and arbitrary guidelines,,,

        these De facto Officers only study Codes, and Rules and Regulations, and guidelines, Half of them don’t know Uniform Commercial Code much more for Canon Law,,,

        how can something that comes from nature as a weed be illegal, is like them man come and say one day oh we cannot use Veh-Ven to make your Bush tea anymore because it make you go to sleep quick quick,,,

        lemme ask you this,,, If a hurricane come and court is in session and all man have to run for their life, you think the Judge will sit there and continue the Administrative process??? or he will be running for his life to like all others,,,

        The hurricane coming and causing havoc, That is natural Law the laws of nature that No man has jurist-dictions over but must follow them for All to be un uniformity with nature, and those Officers of the Queen’s Court sure don’t have any of those on their Bookshelves,,,

        The Administrative process whereby the judge was telling some other One, what he can or cannot posses that came from Nature, is merely a Rule, Code, Legislation, merely guidelines or whatever arbitrary definition you want to give it not Law!!!

        Only fictitious, artificial Entities, a legal Person have individuals make up Rules, codes, Constitutions, for them and give them guidelines because they only exist on paper by Charter or Constitution [Contract],,,

        Go read something before you come here looking so fool-ish and stop drinking the Cool-aid these people who claim to have Omnipotent Authority, been giving the masses all these years,,,

        All Man is created Equal No One should tell No other One what he/She can or cannot posses!!!

      • Equal Wrongs
        October 19, 2012

        …Law of the land my *****…when Skeritt openly said that no ” Law,including…….”… you know the rest, so stop being a hippocryte…and recognise that fact that it is an unjust Law..

  8. "O" STRESS!!
    October 17, 2012

    Hope all that money is reaching our treasury? and lets purchase the necessary Equipments for our Law enforcers as we can see they are working hard and bringing the spoils right to the coffers of the economy. LA shai ches!

    • Justice and Truth
      October 17, 2012

      When they pay the Court, isn’t a receipt issued to them? This receipt and the copy should have an identical number which will be on record for auditing.

  9. October 17, 2012

    is the same thing murders walking free and the man have seven children to feed, lord and he have to pay all that money for god plant he put here for us to use.its are local plant like all other plants.his children have to stay hungry and all that money for the government.

  10. watt la
    October 17, 2012

    But once again to fine a man with all these children $5000.00 is not contributing to social break down. Grand Bay again

    • Justice and Truth
      October 17, 2012

      The man himself is contributing to social breakdown if he is not married and has several children with different women. People blame the government. Blame those who live irresponsible lives as some of them do not worship God and go to church. They know they have to feed, clothe and house the children but some of them go about having children here and there with different women. They may not be employed. I am certain it isn’t that they genuinely want children. In many cases, it is all having sex with different women and they get pregnant. Sex rules them and their lives. This is what contributes to child-poverty and poverty in the land. Those men, if not married, should take a DNA test to ensure that the children are rightfully theirs.

  11. observer
    October 17, 2012

    How do they calculate prison time? One is fined $900. Or six months. In jail another is fined $2000. Or seven months? I would like to know how the calculations are being done.. why is there such a big difference in time to be spent if there is any defaulf?

    • Justice and Truth
      October 18, 2012

      You should ask the proper authorities.

  12. Rastar-Marn
    October 17, 2012

    Garçon every-time I come and read dem tings I getting more irate,,,

    Allyou man dat getting hemmed up by them De facto Officers should first state your jurisdiction,,, Garçon allyou “in” the Universe or “On” Earth not “in” Dominica, if anything when you go court ask to see the Universal Law for which they can adjudicate from,,,

    Mista dem make their arbitrary rules for the Estate of Dominica and that is not where your Body is “All Marn On Land in the Universe” before Dominica was Dominica it was Land and Dem-man-dem come saying it is Dominica, Millions of years ago D place didn’t have no name just because some Albino Claim to be sent by God he come naming fings

    You have a Birth certificate that Created an Estate which only One person can Administrate that is the One that gave birth to the estate and the name they using is merely a constructive trust that the Ecclesiastic Officers created, so both the Lawyers and the Holy See can have perpetual control without any of them get super rich, thas why they both wear those Black robes, and until you notice them ” if all man was created equal who gave the Omnipotent authority to claim they can say what you can or cannot do

    as long as you not hurting No others you can do whatever you want and be in possession of whatever you want to be on possession of as long as no one is being abridged and that thing in possession is natural, I guess they should charge dem other man who took possession of the so called illegal substance den if possession of that item is illegal and all man who took possession after that natural substance was extracted from its natural place should be charged to

    When dem-man-dem call all-you into the Queen’s Court ask dem who gave them Authority to administer your estate to make you pay for something d Estate did

    Now you knuckleheads, don’t go out there and kill and harm other man and expect the Omnipotent One to forgive you yeah, cause you suppose to know that you cannot do dat!!!

    • Justice and Truth
      October 17, 2012

      Rastar man, what are your trying to prove? What do you know? In those days they neither had Rastar man and radical people who revolt against society. You dig! :twisted: :twisted:
      You are preaching and instigating lawlessness. Will you ever succeed in life if you possess such a negative and indifferent attitude? You should be arrested and imprisoned. You are not a faithful and trustworthy national.
      The Omnipotent has given us His Ten Commandments to live by. This means obedience, discipline, self-control and love for every one. It also entails with no exception to obey authority, the government of the land and the Law of the land. Itis contained in the Christian Holy Bible.
      If you believe that there is an Omnipotent, then you should abide by the Law of the land and not preach against it if you wish to live in peace and harmony with others.

      • Rastar-Marn
        October 18, 2012

        Rastar man, what are your trying to prove?
        Marn not trying to prove noffin Marn just Vexed with the Arbitrary Administrative Apparatus thats been Killing Indigenous peoples,,,

        What do you know?

        Marn done forget more things than you will ever come to know,,,

        In those days they neither had Rastar man and radical people who revolt against society.

        Dats because all Marn was living in peace and harmony wiff nature, Den dem Khazars came and start acting in their barbarous ways,,,
        Rasta was there from Creation, you never hear about reincarnation??? you sort nuh???

        You are preaching and instigating lawlessness.
        Garçon all I saying is lets operate thereby natural Laws, they exist you know, but those with all the power will loose,,, All Marn will be equal again,,,
        Anyway Marn not instigating noffin Marn just want people to know Truth, So they to can be Free,,,

        Will you ever succeed in life if you possess such a negative and indifferent attitude? You should be arrested and imprisoned.
        I guess the same thing could be said about the liberators like Simon Bolivar, and Toussaint L’Ouverture, to name just two,,,

        You are not a faithful and trustworthy national.
        You right on one thing yeh, I not a National I am a Triune [Godhead] as we all are with unalienable rights including but not limited to, roam wherever and do whatever as long I don’t hurt my fellow Breaddren,,,

        The Omnipotent has given us His Ten Commandments to live by.
        Garçon dat was Laws of Moses wi, Holy See changed dat so many time to tiff Marn Land saying dey going to make place in heaven if we leave land for them,,,

        This means obedience, discipline, self-control and love for every one.
        Yeah but you cannot use d same to tell me what I can or cannot posses from nature,,,

        It also entails with no exception to obey authority, the government of the land and the Law of the land.
        Next time you Go to Court I want you to ask them to bring Dominca or whomever they acting in behalf of like the Crown, cause they always say ” and who is here on behalf of the Crown” for you to touch it??? Dominica is merely a figment of someone’s imagination a fictitious Entity that was Created by Arbitrary wills of Certain Men and women and they made a Constitution [Contract] for anyone who come claiming to be Dominican,,,

        It is contained in the Christian Holy Bible.
        If you believe that there is an Omnipotent, then you should abide by the Law of the land and not preach against it if you wish to live in peace and harmony with others.
        The Omnipotent One’s Laws are not written anywhere as they are and cannot be written, they just exist,,,
        Garçon what they telling you is Law is merely Guidelines they arbitrarily created so they could come say you break them and you have to pay a fine or you go to the correctional facility while we correct the accounting,,,

        do your reading rasta and you will be in the Light to,,,

      • Rastafari
        October 18, 2012

        Justice and Truth said: “…In those days they neither had Rastar man and radical people who revolt against society…” HUH!? Are you an out of touch person? Society is more civilized now than ever before. Man/Woman, I really hope you get some education (common sense) and stop sounding so ignorant (you made me use the word)

      • Equal Wrongs
        October 19, 2012

        …you’re making Mandela shame… 8)

  13. Anonymous
    October 17, 2012

    Drug squad? Call them marijuana squad.
    We not stupid, how come the place swimming in cocaine and crack we only hearing they bust coke once every 3 to 6 months? I smell a rat.

  14. block 44
    October 17, 2012

    that goverment is building up the tresury on ganja money,that goverment can never be broke;because you got seed their must be weed.

    • Justice and Truth
      October 18, 2012

      Those who disobey the Law are assisting very well. Blame it on them who refuse to abide by the Law. They are not smart people.

  15. morefire
    October 17, 2012

    what happen, the judge and them dumb uneducated police don’t read the comments to see that to the public they are the reason the country is getting no where. charging a man all that for marijuana. you all will have your day i promise….

    • Justice and Truth
      October 18, 2012

      It is quite simple. Obey the Law!

  16. Jahlove
    October 17, 2012

    Boss,why Dominicans have to suffer under that justice system so nuh. 300 grams of weed,$5000 fine or jail time….Ahh!!! man,and that village is one of the poorest in Dominica. It’s time to decriminalize weed,too much wickedness now man.When people murder and have guns etc they get a slap on the wrist. Weed is not drugs people,stop persecute poor people man. Where they getting the money to pay those fines. Not more weed u sending them and hustle or even other things maybe even illegal in order to get that money…Such a stupid,dirty system we are under.

    • Justice and Truth
      October 18, 2012

      Some of you make statements without first thinking. Did you consider what Dominica will be like if marijuana is legalized? There are already many lawless people in DA. You do not love your country, its peace, safety and progress. You also do not love others including yourself.

      • Annon
        October 18, 2012

        Hey ‘Justice’,… It’s only to apease the United States. St. Vincent some time ago told the U.S straight that they are not going to abide by their terms, due to their economy and decriminalized marijuana. They do not have even half the amount of crack heads nor youth in their jail as Dominica. Wake up from retirement man or mam.

    • Justice and Truth
      October 18, 2012

      Those people asked for it. They defy the Law and so must pay the price of disobedience.

  17. Faceup
    October 17, 2012

    Why cant the judge just fine the man a job?? elas FIVE GRAN,and the man have seven kid’s to feed !! weaked !!

    • Justice and Truth
      October 18, 2012

      You mean ‘find’? How old is he? Did he complete school? Did he ever seek employment during his former adult years? Ask the man if ever sought employment and did he ever work in DA?
      You must know the facts and what type of person is dealing in marijuana prior to stating that the Court should find a job for him. It is not the Court’s responsibility to obtain a job for him. It is his responsibility to do so.
      After our parents’ nurturing while underage, when we become adults we are primarily responsible for ourselves. It is our obligation to seek employment. If we do and are unable to obtain one, then, this is a different story.
      Some people just hang around the island/ village/town and live a life of leisure. This leads to lawlessness. Idleness is the devil’s playground. Today, they get involved in marijuana which they are fully aware is against the Law. If this is their lifestyle, then, what can the government do for them? They are not even helping themselves. I wonder if he is interested in seeking and receiving help and employment. He may be comfortable living a leisurely life and is not interested in seeking employment. You cry for people who refuse to help themselves. They should be taught that they owe something to society and it is not expect (everything) from society without lifting a finger.

  18. cares
    October 17, 2012

    Enough jobs are not created and as young people when we are finally presented with something right or positive in society we are being undermined and robbed so as a result to this we turn to drugs because that’s where the “money” is being made. :-| :-|

    • "O" STRESS!!
      October 17, 2012

      Thats is Rubbish, and a poor excuse only weak and “LOOSERS” that do illegal things and when they are caught they are following our Lawyers giving all those “BS” excuses, Monkey see!, Monkey Do! Lord help us for we are going Down, Down,Down.Niety nine days for the bad ones,but only one day for the law, always remember that!

    • Justice and Truth
      October 18, 2012

      Ask yourself, who is truly responsible for creating jobs and what type of jobs. Do you have an idea and suggestion about creating jobs? If you do, take it to the right authorities.

  19. i hate d government
    October 17, 2012

    c how much students graduating from collage but yet still there is no work system put in place 4 d ghetto youghts.we try to get work but d government brings in chineis 2 work along with there crew an we stay without work.so we try smoking a lil weed 2 free up d mind an realeas a lil stress d police want 2 break our doors an say they looking 4 drugs wen u are only a consumer .free up d weed stop hustle d ghetto yought over a natural plantan politicans arming pple that they have 2 look in to

  20. cares
    October 17, 2012

    Enough jobs are not created and as young people when we are finally presented with something right in society we are being undermined and robbed so as a result to this we turn to drugs because that’s where the “money” is being made.

    • Law less
      October 17, 2012

      You see the problem is that no jobs fathers have the responsibility to provide the daily needs of family government not doing the right thing by creating jobs so drugs is the way forward put charge those ministers first then fight drugs when will Dominicans learn that no government should stay in power for so long they get competent and stop working at the end of the day they go home with not a fairs day work.
      This is a fact just look around and you guys will see I’m not lying country to small to play politics we need to grow and move forward .

  21. Anonymous
    October 17, 2012

    so as a result we turn to drugs cause that’s where the proper money is being presented

  22. Anonymous
    October 17, 2012

    enough jobs are not created and when we, as a young state to Dominica is presented work we don’t get paid the right way

  23. just asking..
    October 17, 2012

    “there’s a lot of political breakdown in society”…what does that have to do with him smoking marijuana?….

    • Listening
      October 17, 2012

      I was wondering the same thing!!!

      • hotstuff
        October 18, 2012

        why all u want to make people pay the prize all people in da are not good lord help them

    • wiser than
      October 17, 2012

      very inappropriate speech, about political breakdown in society. hypocrite set of people. what happen to de police they get the drugs by.

      • Anonymous
        October 17, 2012

        what happen to the ELEMENT case? hmmmmmmmmmmmm

    • Just Saying
      October 17, 2012

      i was thinking the same thing…

    • A.E.W
      October 17, 2012

      that’s what i’m trying to figure out. these law officials will never understand the breaking point of a broke man struggling to feed his family by any means necessary. never.

    • Morihei Ueshiba
      October 17, 2012

      Magistrate Baptiste blaming skerrit, she is right! :-P

    • Rastafari
      October 17, 2012

      She was referring to the judiciary system being broken, LOL! Enough is enough already! The gun men have to go down if th eweed man is being taken down. there are no jobs in Dominica, none, period. So judge, don’t tell these peeps do go do better. There is no way out in this hell hole!!!

    • show boat
      October 17, 2012

      I was wondering the same thing too, but I placed the pieces together after reading @Morihei Ueshiba comments. The clue is right there.

      -No law, not even the constitution should prevent them- the precedence has been set.

  24. Anonymous
    October 17, 2012

    why say what village one person is from and not the next one

  25. hmmm
    October 17, 2012

    alas poor Dominicans

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available