Parliamentary Representative for La Plaine, Petter Saint Jean, has denied involvement in an alleged kidnapping matter in La Plaine which surfaced in the media recently.
In a post on his Facebook page, Saint Jean described the reports as “a malicious attempt by criminal elements in La Plaine to tarnish my good name and that of other community members.”
“Contrary to information which was circulated, I was and have been subjected to regular theft of agricultural produce and the entire community bears record of this fact,” he wrote.
News reports recently surfaced that a high ranking official in La Plaine and his son allegedly kidnapped and assaulted three men of the community who were accused of stealing agricultural produce from the official’s holdings. The men were allegedly questioned and beaten.
The reports implicated Saint Jean and his son but in his Facebook post, he said it is far from the truth.
He explained what happened.
“On Saturday September 24, 2016, following the theft of a large quantity of dasheen from my farm, three suspects, neither of them farmers, were intercepted by my son and I.” Saint Jean wrote. “During the incident which was witnessed by a number of villagers tempers flared, however the police was called in and the suspects were handed over to the officers.”
He added, “In fact following their releas (sic) they all requested a ride to the upper section of the village on my private vehicle and I willingly complied.”
He said the farmers of the country must be allowed to grow and harvest their produce in peace “and to provide for their families.”
“Praedial larceny has become the biggest crime with which farmers must contend and it impacts not only on the purses of these hard working farmers of our country but also poses a serious threat to the health of our people given the total disregard shown by those who steal agricultural produce which may have been treated with chemicals and sold to unsuspecting buyers,” he said.
Saint Jean said on the day in question, there was no semblance of kidnapping.
“I wish to reiterate that at NO TIME was there any thought or semblance of a kidnapping and that neither of the individuals in question has at any time past or present been a farmer. Furthermore each has a history of theft and incarceration known to all within La Plaine and beyond,” he wrote.
Saint Jean hinted that politics could be playing a role in the entire matter.
“It is unfortunate that persons opposed to me politically, would seek to make a partisan football of so serious an issue as praedial larceny,” he said. “I have full confidence in the ability of law-abiding Dominicans to treat these unfounded accusations of kidnapping with the contempt that they deserve.”
I have a question, anybody think they really going to successfully prosecute a serving government minister? that would be a big blow for the government as well as party reputation. It is a lose lose situation. nou ka priye pou yo.
Some of you love to criticize and deny. You hardly ever believe anything, even though some of it may be true.
The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you have them do unto you.
Give him the benefit of the doubt. Whatever occurred will come out sooner or later.
Hello and good evening my people. Thanks DNO for deleting my prior post about this incident. I would like to know if you deleted my post because I said Mr St Jean statement reads like a confession. Thanks.
Wait a minute. Peter you said they were handed over to the police.
Who handed them over to the police?
In whose custody were they?
Did they willingly follow to be handed over?
You really think peopke dotish.
because you can fool some,do not think you can fool all
Dominicans must learn to thj k for themselves and analyze a situation and evaluate it.
DNO, You I am yet to comprehend your reason for deleting my comments. No names were mentioned. What could possibly be your reason? I am sure if it was something negative I had written about Skerrit you would quickly moderate it.
Did Johnny get his dasheen back?
Either way, somebody must be charged……Police do your work. Prove to the citizenry that you can independently investigate a matter and get closure in the shortest possible time. They guys have been on radio with a spokesman and Mr. St. Jean has been on facebook. Come on do something the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force
“Following their release, they all requested a ride to the upper section of the village on my private vehicle and I willingly complied”
WHO DOES THAT? NOT IN DCA! YOU ACCUSSED PEOPLE OF STEALING YOUR PRODUCED AND YOU GAVE THEM A RIDE? THAT’s NOT HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
I’m incensed by all this rhetoric!! Do we really believe that a man like our Education Minister is guilty of kidnapping at thief??? This Minister is tirelessly working hard to ensure that our children get a good education. To think that people would stoop so low as to accuse him of this outrageous crime is criminal in itself!!! A by-election?? Now I know where this is coming from. Bring it on!!! St Jean is a local man who cares for his Constituents. I rebuke evil in Jesus name!!! God bless you Minister Saint Jean ??
Crab, go back into your barrel!
I would suggest that you stop using Jesus and God in situations like these instead I would suggest that you take all of the pieces put them together on your own and come up with a better comment than what you post for now, just ask yourself how did these men found themselves in the basement of the minister’s house, and where were these men when he called the police to arrest them , and did he or any one else told him thy sure the men in his garden, got do some investigations and while you a doing that remove the blind vale covering your eyes.
So true this man is really working hard for him to have to deal with that nonsense you always in my prayers
Thank you for the response, however this deserves further analysis which we will do for you because the person who advised you to respond to these quite serious allegations should have been kind enough to help you craft the communication.
1. First of all you should be brave enough to address the public in a meeting by Willie’s junction and not on social media. Most of the people from your community do not have computers. They need to hear directly from you. They are the ones who live with your wrath daily. It is not all about those who fly in on election day to impose your rule on the community and fly back to their lives overseas.
2. Your indicated that 3 suspects were intercepted by your son and you! “Intercepted”? Please explain that terminology. Who gives you the right to “intercept” any one? Does that mean that you could “intercept” anyone else because you think about it? Could you have intercepted me if I was walking up the road to by bakes and chicken by Kentos just…
The police and the villagers could confirm what Minister St. Jean stated.
People must avoid spreading propaganda, what which did not occur and is not true.
The Eighth Commandment of God is: “Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor.”
If we disobey one of these Commandments, we commit a mortal/grievous sin. Therefore, nationals be careful. There is a penalty for spreading false rumors and tarnishing the good name of others. Consider if you were in that position. How would you feel?
Ensure what you state is the truth. Words/News cannot be retracted. They could have a damaging effect on everyone, the bearer of news and the accused. It is like, “Be careful of stones that you throw.”
Some opposition Don’t you have a right to defend your property. Mabe it is a citizens arrest. The people were held and release to the police,… Ransom … When they were released the were given a ride home by the same people . There will not be any Police report because there were no charges filed.
That statement dont make any sense
Mr. St.Jean I am against predial larceny also but your statement need some clarification ( 1) where did you and your son intercepted the men ( 2 ) were they found with any dasheen ? ( 3 ) do you have solid evidence or proof that they are the culprits ? ( 4 ) have they been charge with any related offences in regards to this matter ? will the police P R O TELL US THE PEOPLE SOMETHING ?
I don’t believe a word . Why did it take Mr. St Jean so long to offer an explanation? Only in Dominica, alas only in Dominica
typical dominicas roadside justice, ,tempers fled so they were already judged,but it seem after being questioned by the police they had no evidence,tempers calmed down,st jean turned round and gave them a ride,most probably someone with no knowledge of what was taking place,decided that it was kidnaping…but the only suggestion to clearing this matter st jean,is the police report and journalist investigations of the people of the village, and the guys involved to file a lawsuit then ,if you were wronged like you all claimed,my judgement of this whole situation is dominica and their little rural communities can spread propaganda..like just a little shot of rum..typical dominican’s and UWP attitude
God alone and the victims know where StJean took them when he offered them a ride to the upper part of the village.where did you take them Mr St.Jean?
EnfantDiable? Does it matter who caused the news- story to be published?
WAKE UP THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA and EXCERISE YOUR RIGHTS! ASK FOR A BY-ELECTION!
@ Thibaud, we need to work over time to ensure that we have a by-election to FIRE Skerrit and his entire Labor party for putting Dominica in this mess. The people of Penville will agree with us that the behavior of these ministers is further proof of the “No law, no constitution” statement of Skerrit can stop these guys from doing what they want. We, the people of Penville, Vielle-Case and Thibaud MUST take responsibility ASAP!
you lie. the people of penville, v/case and thibaud just love the PM
.
“On Saturday September 24, 2016, following the theft of a large quantity of dasheen from my farm, three suspects, neither of them farmers, were intercepted by my son and I.” Saint Jean wrote. Lol boss mr st jean are u a polican for you to be arresting people under suspecion???? If u acted under tue law that permits a citizen arrest u ought to know that you can only arrest someone when the person committed the offence in your view or u met them in your garden.. Order than that u have to call the police… Man what the ce waiting on to arrest mr?
I ask again..where is the police report on the events and has the media asked the police to respond on the state of their investigations ,,Or is it that the matter is not being investigated? Strange!!!!
No information from the police. Yet another boiling pot of opions and rumors aka beff.
Something seems to be missing here, can u imagin Linton, Sparks john, or anyone on the opposition being accused of this. They would be at stock farm chilling awaiting trial. My question is ,where is Ron Green and every one elese on the opposition . Its either they dont believe the accusations or they dont care about law and order in the country
I feel most commenters here are not or have ever been farmers. All that talk about ‘if there are pervious polices reports’ and ‘illegal detention’, if I catch a man in my field I going to call police? by time police come next day de man would already done sell my crops, and then if I don’t have video evidence what people will say- I lying?
Stealing produce is worse than lack of markets or presence of disease to farmers. if I catch a man in my field I would do worse
This story does not make any sense to me. If you figure they were the thieves who stole your dasheen, wouldn’t you be mad at them? would you still offer them a ride? commonsense…….let it prevail…….
Even if they had nothing to do with the missing dasheen?
st jean you should be telling that story to judge judy for her to chew you up then spit you out……………….st jean now angello going to laugh at your explanation…………laugh angello laugh
There are Christian with small c and still those with a Capital C which one are Mr. St. Jean?
Whatever he is he is .What does his Christianity have to do with that.U all Dominicans stoop so low to bring ppl down.When hurricane coming alone all u know God.
None
Petter Satin Jean,what does the fact that these individuals are not farmers have to do with the alleged kidnapping by you and your son.You stated it twice but are yet to provide any proof that these individuals are the ones who stole from you.Also if predial larceny is such a big problem in the country,the question is why? You and your government said that agriculture was not your priority,you have failed to bring grass roots development to the country and as a result there are a lot more hungry and destitute people in the country.
JJ you not easy. To spin what i have just read in such an outrageous manner is simply giving great credit to the partisan polarization claim of the Hon. Minister. I too have issues with what I have heard in the last few weeks. The minister has denied it. IAs I understand it the mater is in the hands of the police. Shouldn’t we all agree to allow the police and court to deal with the matter? Regarding your dumb assertion “You and your government said that agriculture was not your priority. You have failed to bring grass roots development to the country and as a result there are a lot more hungry and destitute people in the country” only resembles the level to which you have be reduced your former “brilliant self” simply on the platform of PARTISAN EXPEDIENCY. You have offered absolutely no evidence to support your case, but you speak from afar with tongue in cheek gumption. Shameless expart you are.
The evidence of increased poverty in Dominica is all around you,are you blind that you can’t see.Agriculture has declined,manufacturing has declined,government through NEP is the biggest employer on the island,tourism not growing on par with other markets,the health sector is sick,the national debt is way over one billion dollars and counting and not much to show for it,increase in murders and other crimes,sale of passports is now the main form of revenue,less air access into and out of the country,do you want me to go on
Very interesting statement ,” during the incident which was witnessed by a number of villagers, tempers flared, however, the police was called in and the suspects were handed over to the officers.” The political pastor appeared to have forgiven the men who alleged did him wrong. He accused the men of stealing his produce, he handed them to the police and he still gave them a ride on his vehicle after their release.
I wish DNO would investigate the matter, at least speak to the police.
Did the witnesses witness the type of interception that St.Jean spoke of. How did he and what did he used to intercept the guys?
Where is the police report???
Gone, just like the dasheens. Perhaps ISIS will claim responsibility
how long will the game roll on for…well the blame has to be labelled on the society of Dominica for embracing and promoting that type of unknown behavior in this modern era.
haha, that’s the history of his Labor regime deception and trickery?
it’s a evil cult? don’t folks see the curse that kinda lot of blokes have brought upon dominica…
dominica is the poorest and slowest economy in the region…pure…f—-evil them into!!
St. Jean, I am not saying you did or did not but hear this. You claim to be a victim of numerous predial larceny. How many reports you have made to the police in this regard so that the proper investigation arrests and conviction can be made. You also put yourself together with the suspects and according to you were intercepted by your son. How then were you able to get them to sit there and wait until the police came? Thats called an arrest. Your broad declaration that tempers fled could mean anything or rather something happened. What you have done above is implicated yourself. I am no lawyer but you would have done better if you had just shut your mouth. I thought the story was a joke and you now confirmed it happened.
Ask the police they will tell u. U all won’t understand how it feels. But I admire peter for being a minister of government AND STILL A FARMER. That is action and words. U are contributing to the agricultural sector unlike some ppl.
Are you insinuating that someone who is a minister and also a farmer is above the law? What’s your point to raise this
Let’s pray justice prevails. In Dominica only the Labour Party people and party line tow-ers receive their own kind of justice right or wrong. They pay the administrators of justice their monthly salary so they work for the Labour Party.
And there I was thinking he did it.
Considering the victims story were identical 
and they were offered money too. I know my parl rep would never do that. He is a christian. 
no he is your god
hey you know that there is also Christian in Stock farm prison ???
The crusaders were christians also, as were those priests that tortured and killed non-believers in the name of God during the inquisition. We have christian ministers of government, who are church leaders and yet revert to feudal customs of yore, when people were beholden to, their masters.
Since you do not comprehend about the Crusaders, when you die the truth of it and why they did it will be revealed to you.
Wish you could listen to Jeff Cavins’ program on the US Catholic Radio. He has spoken about it. Prior to that he did much research on it in order to bring out the truth of it. With your type of mortal mind you will continue to denounce it. One day you will believe the truth and you will not condemn Christians and those church leaders.
For those who believe, no explanation is necessary.
For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.
Saint Jean described the reports as “a malicious attempt by criminal elements in La Plaine to tarnish my good name and that of other community members.”
Wow Petter
What about the Taberi River environmental disaster which is occurring under under watch Mr. MP? Is that a criminal act Petter?
A picture is worth a thousand words and there are pictures of the trauma these three poor souls received from the savage beating. Who lashed these men last Saturday? Was it the jumbie from Sari- Sari Falls or some other ‘Lougawou’ from the La Plaine hills Mr. St. Jean? Or did they get a royal beating from a cowboy and his partner in a garage?
The matter of the alleged kidnapping will be before the court soon. We will see to it that the victims’ attorney are taken of.
All La Plaine folks at home and abroad and all Dominicans should be outraged at this development.
Emanuel Finn
Washington…
But how that fit in the discussion nah really? Wat we talking about nah really? Produce dat got stolen or river people claiming affecting dem for other reasons?
This statement of made by Petter makes no sense. Notice he never denies beating these men instead he used the word ” INTERCEPTED by my son and I”. My question to Petter is, during the interception, did you find any of the Dasheen in the possession of these men? And if they were handed over to the police by you and your son, doesn’t that confirms the act of an apprehension and subsequent detention of these individuals? Why didn’t the Police charge these men with possession of stolen property? You did not address any of these allegations instead you’re blaming so-called praedial larceny. Why would three individuals fabricate such a story?
Wow this guy is a Born- Again- Christian—–no kidding !!!!!
I think it was a sort of excitement to realize it. My eyes and mind were opened. One does not have to leave their Catholic Faith to be born again. What has to be done is to cultivate it; learn more about it. There is much to know about the Catholic Faith, most of all to worship and serve Our Lord and serve others all for the love of Him.
So some left that Church thinking they will be saved? This is wrong teaching, foolishness, a grave mistake and the deceit of the devil. Many are deceived about that passage in John 3.
You too will find out the truth on that day, if it is not revealed to you while you are alive. Today, when the opportunity presents itself wherever I may be, I explain this passage to many, also non-Catholics. None have denied it. I inform them the same, pray to God to reveal it to them.
St. Paul said: “Whatever you do, do it with love.”
One of the Spiritual Works of Mercy is to teach the ignorant, the naïve, the misinformed and uninformed.
Preadial larceny is indeed a scourge on our country and has been with us, certainly since the British administration. However, nobody is guilty under our laws until proven to be so, following due process.
The argument by mr. St. Jean that the alleged perpetrators have previous criminal records, are not real farmers and accepted a lift from him back home would deemed to be irrelevant under the law. Maybe kidnapping is too strong a word but illegal detention would be a close cousin. He would have been wiser to leave the matter entirely in the hands of the police and have the men arrested on suspicion of preadial larceny, and keep his nose clean.
Are you familiar with the term “citizen’s arrest”? I rest my case.
Zandoli, rest your case by all means but note that a person effecting a citizen’s arrest also leaves himself liable to a charge of false imprisonment or unlawful restraint, if it is found that the civil rights of the person(s) apprehended were violated.
If these are the true facts who caused the news-story to be published?
Here you go, off a tangent again. Is that important? Let’s eamine the facts withoutm prejudice and let the chips fall where they may.