In a noteworthy legal twist, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sherma Dalrymple, has discontinued legal proceedings against Hector John, the former Parliamentary representative for Salisbury.
John was earlier charged with incitement against the Commonwealth of Dominica, a charge stemming from an event that occurred on September 6, 2019, at a public gathering in Lagoon, Independence Street, Roseau. It was was alleged that John attempted to stir up civil disturbance with his speech, warning of possible unrest if elections were conducted without electoral reform.
However, as of February 23, 2024, the case against John has been dropped, in line with Section 72(2)© of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica. That section states: “The Director of Public Prosecutions shall have the power in any case in which he considers it desirable to do so…(c) to discontinue at any stage before judgement is delivered, any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by himself or any other person or authority”
Gildon Richards, the attorney for Hector John, expressed his frustration over the prolonged legal process.
“We have been in and out of the courts before Mr. Laudat for over three years waiting for his decision on my argument,” he stated.
Richards further explained that they were expecting a decision on February 16, 2024, but the matter was postponed due to the absence of Mr. Keith Scotland from Trinidad who was prosecuting the matter on behalf of the State. He said upon their appearance in court the following day, they were presented with a notice of discontinuance from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Sherma Dalrymple.
Richards emphasized, “We have been going back and forth for over three years just for a decision by the magistrate on the submission. That’s where the focus should be, not on whether I want a victory, no!”
Just recently, leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), Dr. Thomson Fontaine, called for the dismissal of similar charges which were brought seven years ago, against him and two other members of the party: former UWP leader and current president, Lennox Linton, and former Prime minister Edison James. The charges stem from an incident that dates back to February 7, 2017. On that day, the United Workers Party (UWP), which was the parliamentary opposition at the time, held a meeting on Kennedy Avenue in Roseau calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, following which several businesses were vandalized in the capital city. Several opposition members were subsequently charged with inciting violence and obstructing justice.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP], she is the one who has to say that there is no merit in any of those cases,” he remarked. “Other individuals who were charged like us, like the current Speaker of the House of Assembly, those charges have been dismissed. He is no longer before the court,” Fontaine stated at a press conference earlier this week. “I think it will also send a very strong signal in terms of national reconciliation, national healing, because we are way too divided in Dominica.”
Below is the court document from DPP Dalrymple authorizing the discontinuance of the case against John.
Weren;t they ALL charged with the same crime on the same day? Why drop John chage and leave the others? Also why isnt Joseph Isacc part and parcel as well? We was very instrumental and involved in the protest and should also have been charged and brought to court? Why is he now the speaker of the house and exempt from all of this bogus court proceedings? Why arent the cases of the other gentlemen dropped as well? This is a complete circus.
But What D @$$ is dat nuh dem Trinidadians running Dominica man!!!
First RastarMarn Hearing dey Own Astaphans now dey have deir hands on Dominica Government???
According to dis allyou mean to tell me Skerrit Dem have a Pardner coming all the way from Trinidad to fight his own people???
And allyou still have Mista Dere playing like he is Diplomat, “Ducter” and “Emperor- Autocrat” !!!
Dominicans forget that is to “Blow-People-Stone” man!!!
In most countries, court cases tend to bring out the truth, and it seems that after years of harassment and political aggravation, the accusers have now pondered the fallout if the truth came out from this trial. Easiest thing to do? drop the case. This government and its justice machinery is akin to the serious human rights abuses, political malfeasance, and outright corruption that one sees in authoritarian systems. We are getting to be more like china and russia than being a true democracy. But be forewarned. Nothing lasts forever, and neither will this infected amoebic “wannabe dictator” system.
The only people that have made statements of incitement are all from the government side and as usual no one has been warned, charged or arrested.
When Prime minister Skerrit told his supporters to throw hot water on members of the opposition , that was excitement. When Skerrit told his supporters during a DLP meeting in Wesley that if they voted UWP and Lennox Linton the blood of nation would be on the that was inciting violence. When Reggie Austrie told DlP supporters to disappear the then opposition Linton Hon Lennox Linton, that was inciting violence. Time would fail me to mention the incitement of violence made by members of the government against the opposition and no one, not even the police says a word! Clearly members of the opposition are being harassed, charged, arrested and dragged before the courts just for asking Skerrit to account for monies missing
“..you will be hearing about Hector John..you will not be seeing me..don’t think about having elections without electoral reform..you’ll have civil unrest on your hands..”
Honestly don’t know which is worst:
the ex-parl rep thinking that “peace-loving” Dominicans actually cared about the future of their democracy..
the “justice system” and it’s failure to actually care about the people they’ve sworn to protect..
or our “Queen DPP” dispensing “justice” at the whims and fancy of those who pull the strings..
Our country is literally at the “crossroads”..and right-thinking Dominicans know the choices we should make..but “knowing” and “doing” what’s right..well, that’s almost always “another sorry story”
To begin with, there was NEVER, EVER any case. Skerrit and his surrogates, assisted by members of the broken CDPF, are just abusing their power, but this too shall end.
So by now the police still dont know who were burning down Roseau on 17th February 2017? Similarly they still do not know who were burning down the telecommunication tower in Melvillehall? But Skerrit knows. Skerrit said “we know who” were the people doing that.
Stttuuuupppeeesss! Is it that our police officers are afraid of soldiers, snipers and navy seals?
If this was the basis on which John was charged, the DPP is spot on. I see no incitement in there. The legal definition of incitement is clear.