Two young mothers have found themselves in trouble with the law and will now face the consequences of their actions.
Stephanie Betrand, a mother of five, will have to find $500 to pay the courts or risk going to jail for one month after she pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis.
“I am sorry and I am a mother of five children ages, 9, 7, 5, 3 and 16 months and I want to be there for them,” a remorseful Betrand told the court.
Reports are that on October 6, police saw the 25-year-old mom on the River Bank in Roseau smoking the illegal substance with a young man. She was arrested but she told the lawmen that the young man was her boyfriend and she had taken the marijuana ‘joint’ from him “to take a smoke.”
“You are a young lady, that boyfriend is bad a influence … you need to be a good example for your kids … stay away from drugs and tell your boyfriend the same,” Magistrate Candia Carette George told her.
In another matter Alice Lavinier, a mother of two from Pichlen, was given a stern warning by the magistrate to “be an example to your kids and stay away from drugs.”
According to court documents Lavinier was spotted by police on the steps of the Petite Savannah Labour Party Constituency Office on October 7 around 7:30 am with a brown paper bag in her hand. The bag was searched and the marijuana found. “Roseau I was going for some help but a partner give me that to sell for him so I can get help,” was her excuse for possessing the substance.
Her lawyer Joshua Francis told the court she was very remorseful and did not want to waste the court’s time. “She is a single mother trying to get help for her kids but it came through illegal means. I am in no way trying to justify her actions but mouths have to be fed, please Your Honour take the reality into consideration,” Francis said.
But magistrate Carrette George would hear none of it saying there are consequences to Lavinier’s actions. “For the sake of your children please do what is right. I know you personally…. I wish I did not have to deal with it but you broke the law so you have to face the consequences of your actions,” she said.
Lavinier broke into tears when the magistrate fined her $1,000.00 for the possession of cannabis however there was no separate penalty for the charge of possession with intent to supply.
well we women must try to work n work hard forget about blaming the men for everything even for wen we make our mistakes…
well we cant blame the men all the time women must always try to be independant work do something positive wit their hands help someone do some house work or so n charge them remember the kids hav two parents not one am a woman too n i work
leave my family alone.
how u’all not sure she was not holding it for somebody.
oh!!!!!! just leave my family alone
She will go about having children and for different men. By the time she reaches menopause, how many children will she have? She probably will have a few grandchildren by then. What type of example is she to her children? They may just repeat her pattern of life.
This is a woman who has swayed far from God. She was probably baptized, once innocent and grew up attending church. Somewhere along the way she changed her course. She needs to return to living a decent life.
How could she support all those children? Who takes care of them? Who feeds and clothe them?
If she cannot afford to pay the fine she will have to be imprisoned. Someone stated that since she has no money, she will sell marijuana to pay the Court. This is a bad suggestion and advice. It will only land her in prison and for additional time.
These young people need help. They need guidance. Surely, the Welfare Department could assist them, advise them and guide them to live a better life and especially where children are concerned. I hope that she receives such help.
the justice sytem in DA is shit. they only pinalyse poor people children and who is not in the red cabal.. what about Isidore and Corbette? boy one day , one day we will see
anyhow it was me .. i would burn my jail .. place my children at my mother’s or dad’s home for the month and take my jail. i’m “poor” don’t have money to feed my children and u asking me to pay money?? sorry wii .. alot will not agree but i burning d jail eh
They need to do the right thing.And the men need to take care of their children
men take care of your kids cause to many of ue women have to take care of the children by ourselves. u all dont have a conscience and dont think how ur children are eating u all think it is easy to take care of children by urself. and why do u all dont feed the children when the women are not with u a;ll anymore stupid thinking its the children that is suffering not us. and the law is unfair u charging the motheres they dont have the money to take care of the kids where will they get the money to pay the what are u sending them to do come on mind u am not saying they must deal drugs am just totally against it to the bone but come on
u c the thing is dat single moms look for a man to take care of them n the child/children they have but they they get pregnant again n the man leaves thus the cycle continues
I am tired of hearing this magistrate address children as kids in a court of law. Mrs George kids are goats in case you forgot. should i call your three girls kids?
Lol
Kids “hairy kids” is also a name for the enemy – satan.
How one is just spotted with a brown paper bag and is just searched in Dominica? Damn! there has to be some law on this!
$1000.00 fine? Couldn’t it be any less? I mean was it even considered that she was a first time or repeated offender? Given her circumstances such as, job, kids etc. SMH.. Law in Dominica hard on a marijuana!
She has five children, is 25 years and unmarried. When it is stated that people are poor, consider this woman, why they are poor and the reason poverty exists in the land or anywhere for that matter.
The fact that she is also involved in illegal drugs, she has projected she is an irresponsible mother. I do not think that she will be free of drugs. Such habits are hard to break unless she gets help.
Who financially supports the children? What will happen to them as they grow older? With such a mother, what type of children and adults will they be?
If there is such a system in Dominica, the children should be taken away from her to be properly cared for.
A mother selling drugs to feed her children and u charging her all that, i hope u realize she gonna sell marijuana to get the bail money.
SO TRUE!!!
Sometimes we 2 qick 2 judge.wen we have our own skeleton in our closet.nt everone got it sweet.stuppes.god help her n her 5 kids.love
what a waste of time. all these people selling coke and guns and the government arresting people for smoking spliff.
kixx..society boy
honest i agree with you, not to say is money she was making.
I GOING TO TRY THOSE NUMBRES IN A LOTO 2MURO
9, 7, 5, 3 and 16 and the 25(for the age)
SMH
You made me laugh. They look like good numbers to use. You may just be lucky. Try them. Good luck. If these numbers win the jackpot you can give her some of the money be it for the sake of the children.
lol
such a beautiful young girl just wating her life. That was a young lady many and i mean many young men wanted, she deceided to try to live in the fast lane. her life really took the tour for the worst, i really do hope she get it under control and change her life style. She still have a chance, she is beautiful and smart.
Of all the things that could make news DNO is using something as petty as this..Come on now…. And as far as the the drugs go I say NONSENSE… If party A was dealing I would understand she was merely smoking give the girl a break!!!!!! And party B well all i can say is i hope you learn your lesson…. chupz
That is honestly a waste of time, I mean a joint. The girl already have 5 mouths to feed, she have to give the courts $500. for what…I mean if you found her with a bag of the stuff or a plantation in her backyard yes but I mean stop with that foolishness and go after dem big time dealers that out there using our young boys.
25 with 5 pickney?
My thoughts exactly…..she quick.
My sentiments exactly. The first is 9, meaning she was about 14. She should have stopped long time ago.
My sympathies are entirely with these children, none of whom asked to be born but now become a burden to society. What chances have they got of a decent education and becoming respected members of that same society? We should speak out against that single-mother syndrome rather than see it rewarded by those in authority wityhout instilling a sense of personal responsibility.
She wasn’t 14!!!….try again lol
you want to give her extra one lol
Lmao. I think they meant 52.
crucail wii she making every year,dem man more wicked eh