Gene Pestaina to demit office

Gene Pestaina
Gene Pestaina

Gene Pestaina, who has been holding the post of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), goes on retirement leave at the end of April 2013 and will officially demit office in July 2013.

Speaking at the sitting of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court now sitting in Dominica, Pestaina announced that his stint is coming to an end.

“I just want to announce that this will be my last sitting before this Honourable court as DPP before I demit office … and so I have decided to allow my very capable juniors to deal with the matters currently before the court,” he said.

Pestaina, a former police officer, told DNO that he had obtained a private loan when he decided to study law. “I sent myself to study and I am very pleased with my achievements, I was the first police officer so to do and since then a number of others have followed and I am extremely pleased,” he said.

A DPP is appointed under Section 88 of the Dominica constitution and after attaining the age of 65 the DPP must demit office.

To hold the post of DPP a person must have eight years of experience as a lawyer.

Meantime, former United Workers Party (UWP) senator, Julian Prevost, who is also a former parliamentary representative for Mahaut, is expected to hold the position of DPP in Dominica in a “temporary” capacity for three months from May 1, 2013.

Prevost is no stranger to that post, having previously held it for a short period of  time. He is also a former partner in the law firm of Prevost & Williams and is now in private practice.

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26 Comments

  1. Tyre hit de road
    April 14, 2013

    Much Respect Mr Pestaina blessings !

  2. Anonymous
    April 11, 2013

    Please Julian Prevost will take the money sign indictments prepared by staff and that’s it. I know from experience. The government knows he has no backbone. Celia Delauney should have gotten this job. She will execute the functions of the DPP without fear or favor and will work hard.

  3. lEgiT
    April 10, 2013

    Thank you Mr Pestina for your services the best of luck in your future endeavors i hope the new person brings some more fortunes to the state.

  4. Anonymous
    April 10, 2013

    Happy retirement dear Gene.
    Congratulations Julien. May you contine the good work. Remember HARD WORK PAYS. Supporting you fully, you deserve this chance.
    God bless

  5. li
    April 9, 2013

    All the best enjoy your retirement.

  6. untouchable
    April 9, 2013

    welcome Mr. Prevost to the post. Haters will keep on hating

  7. "O" STRESS"
    April 9, 2013

    Goood job mr DPP thanks for your service. Enjoy your retirement we need you behind the bench as a fighting artorney. The one who is about to replace you is educated, a true son of the soil, well qualified, may be a a former officer,a soldier,[ American trained{not that it matters}But he have to be mindful, a king has no honor in his own country. I wish him all the best, and hope Dominicans do not call for his head in six months. We go see!

  8. psalm 37
    April 9, 2013

    Congratulations on a job well
    Done.On your reflection you will
    Realise you made the right decisions.
    May your successor continue the
    Good job.May his house be in
    Order for his commencement in
    May.

  9. Dominican in VA
    April 9, 2013

    Well deserved retirement.Ipray God,s blessing for long life and prosperity for you and Judith and other members of the family,Gene,iremember fondly our days in Jamaica, be blessed,

  10. Hunting season
    April 9, 2013

    Was about time

  11. Faceup
    April 9, 2013

    Thought you were older than that, anyway enjoy bro..

  12. toma
    April 9, 2013

    Good luck Sir and thank you, you have served the country well, have a blessed retirement

  13. william
    April 9, 2013

    Chief, congrats you have done wwwwweeeellll for us both as a police officer , a hotelier partner and as DPP. You worked well for the nation duty well served.
    As you go you need your flowers and I see no reason coming this Independence that the government done give you your flowers ( after working under pressure from them) . As a former police officer myself during your tenure you hold no sides but to see and did your work with fairness.
    You deserve a long rest with your wife Judith who stayed by your side also. Take a vacation and the Almighty be you .

  14. Maho Roro
    April 9, 2013

    Julien Prevost soon come

  15. SiangUK
    April 9, 2013

    Long overdue.

    His decision regards the double child murderer, was a disgrace.

    • Justice and Truth
      April 10, 2013

      I wholeheartedly agree with you. Only last week I was thinking of those two children who were murdered by their mother and being out on bail was allowed to leave DA. She has not yet paid for her crimes. It is something that I will never get over – until earthly justice is meted out. This put a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak. I do not dislike him but I cannot congratulate this man on a job well done. He lacked authority, leadership and fairness in this case.
      Fellow Dominicans please do not be hypocritical. It shocked all of us near and far who highly criticized him for this deceitful and sneaky act.

  16. Dorival John
    April 9, 2013

    Wow…you mean El Supremo don’t have complete and total control over the island that one of his disciples didn’t get the post, even though its temporary?

    I find this rather interesting.

    • Met Yo
      April 9, 2013

      your stupidity is amazing!!!! you people are miopic in your thinking…..WHy didnt you say that the PM is not petty and political in that he appointed a DPP who a known UWPite to such an important position? A DPP who can instruct that charges be laid on anyone in the state…… It is comendable of this Administration and shows character………So fed up of you political parasites who only attempt to cause division in our Dominica………Congratulation on your appointment Mr. Prevost

      • Dorival John
        April 9, 2013

        Met Yo….you completely miss the point. Can’t you recognize sarcasm when you see it?

        Let me explain. There are many in Dominica who thinks that the PM is a dictator and and he basically control everything, as a dictator does.

        If he was a dictator, obviously he would make sure the position of DPP would be given to someone who is in his camp.

        But the appointment of a person that is not in his camp is a clear indication that he is not a dictator and doesn’t things his way all the time.

        Now that you has been spoon fed, you can sit and enjoy the rest of the day.

      • Jayson
        April 9, 2013

        Truth is often spoken in jest…

    • Peeping Tom
      April 9, 2013

      Good observation, Dorival! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

    • Greg
      April 9, 2013

      Dont you know that greed can turn water into milk. ( Turbidity)
      Well let us see – Lorraine Bannis was a UWP, Tim Tim was also. Charles Saverin was leader of Freedom Party. So if The former parl rep of Mahaut is standing at the trough why should we be surprise.

      • Peeping Tom
        April 9, 2013

        By this logic i suppose you, Greg, are saying that no public institution in Dominica will ever be impartial and free of partisan bias. If this is the case, why then bother to have a Constitution? Why bother to even fight for non-partisanship? If according to you, every seemingly non-partisan appointment is to be treated with suspicion that the individual has been polluted (“turned from water to milk”), what chance does Dominica have to build and sustain a united non-partisan front in our march for development?

        You did not do much thinking about your comment, did you? That radio station has your mind in a haze, Greg. Lay off that drug.

      • piping tony
        April 9, 2013

        great observation Greg!!!keep your eye open and pinpoint their nonsense.

    • lang dough
      April 10, 2013

      But who tell allu that Mr. Julien Prevost still supports the UWP??? Dats how allu like to brand people. The man was once associated with the UWP and allu assume he will go on forever in the same mold.

      Time changes so do man. Mr. Timothy, Emmanuel Francis and former senator Nichol ‘Shanks’ Esprit were also former UWP members who are now associated with Mr Skeritt’s Labour Party. So Julian’s appointment may have nothing to do with Skeritt’s sudden found neutrality. It’s always politics as usual

    • Rosebud
      April 10, 2013

      Who knows who’s blue and who has turned red anymore?

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