Chief Magistrate Candia Carrette-George has imposed an additional seven-month jail sentence against Shaquille Bastien alias Tiki, who escaped the lawful confinement of the Dominica State Prison, eluding police for a few hours. The 28-year-old of Fortune/Grand Bay appeared before the Roseau Magistrate Court on October 17, 2023, where he pleaded guilty to the charge.
According to the facts of the case presented to the Court by Police Prosecutor, Sergeant David Andrew Jr., in November 2022, Bastien was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three years at the Dominica State Prison for theft. On October 14, 2023, at about 12:30 p.m., Francis Martin, the Acting Chief Prison Officer at the Prison reported to the Police that Bastien had escaped from the prison compound at Stock Farm.
The following day, at about 6:54 a.m., Bastien walked into the Roseau Police Station and surrendered himself to law enforcement. He was searched and placed in the holding cells and the matter was referred to Constable Thaz Robinson for investigation.
On October 16, Constable Robinson went on duty at the Roseau Police station cells and introduced himself to the defendant. He informed him of the report that he was investigating, cautioned him, and informed him of his rights to an attorney. Bastien made no reply. Shortly thereafter the defendant was escorted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
There, the officer conducted an interview with Bastien during which he admitted to escaping legal confinement.
“I never had no plan of escaping I just was ‘fraid cause them fellers is murderers so I escape,” the escapee stated.
At the conclusion of the investigation, a charge of escaping legal confinement was preferred against Bastien.
Unrepresented at the hearing, Bastien presented a plea in mitigation to the Court on his own behalf.
When explaining his motive for escaping the State Prison, he conveyed to the Chief Magistrate, “Them fellas does threaten and beat me. One give me 21 slaps…I told the Prison Officers but they tell me to handle my business when we reach outside,” he claimed.
However, Magistrate Carrette-George reprimanded Bastien for his action emphasizing the importance of respecting the legal process and reiterating that there are lawful avenues to address grievances. She further cautioned Bastien about the consequences of future
misconduct.
For the offense of escaping legal confinement, Bastien was sentenced to an additional seven months in jail. This sentence will run consecutively with his three-year jail sentence for theft.
Before leaving the courtroom, Bastien pleaded to be admitted to the psychiatric unit.
However, the Magistrate informed him that, with no prior history of mental illness, she could not fulfill this request. Instead, she advised him that he could receive the necessary treatment at the prison.
How these magistrates became magistrates is so far fetched that is beyond any logic and reason. How does one have “a history of mental illness”? And when does mental illness start? Is this magistrate an authority in mental illness? Can this magistrate describe what is mental illness and the history of same? Has she taken any classes in the field of mental illness? Does she know the difference between being Mad and being Crazy? Did she request that the young man be examined for depression? It’s possible that she may have required to read a chapter or two regarding mental disorder (s) but base on her indifference to the young man’s request I doubt that she even knows the broadness of profession or job requirements. I’ve said this a while back concerning our legal system and especially to our so-called magistrates, lawyers and judges in Dominica 🇩🇲 They DGAF about the people. They are all corrupt in their respective field and are not as bright and smart as their “title” would suggest.
“However, the Magistrate informed him that, with no prior history of mental illness, she could not fulfill this request. “
Only in Dominica under Skerrit a Magistrate could say such thing to a person and not lose her job.
Yes what he did is wrong and what he did to land him in prison is very wrong. However he said he ran out of prison because he was afraid of those prisoners and one gave him 21 slaps is enough to get someone dippreed. If he feels depressed and asked to see a professional for mental help, who are you Ms George to deny him this right and say he doesn’t have a history of mental illness? Does one need to have a history to be mentally disturbed? Does having a mental disorder mean a person is mad or crazy? Sometimes just being in a different environment such as away from home be it a trip abroad could get you depressed. The magistrate should have sent him for mental evaluation and let the doctor decide. For that you too should go just like the AG
“The magistrate should have sent him for mental evaluation and let the doctor decide.” And on what basis would she order this evaluation? What authority? If a magistrate/judge has the authority to order psychiatric evaluations on a whim, you would be the first back here spewing more crap about Skerrit.
Fact that he turned himself over to the police less than 24 hrs after he escaped from the prison and said is because he was threatened and beaten by a prisoner …furthermore he said he reported the incident to prison Officers but they told him to handle his business when we reaches outside, is clear that he was scared and neglected and as such the matter should be investigated. I find the magistrate was to hash on him . I guess she doesn’t have children or her children are too good to do wrong. To those who were hash on him to the point that one even blamed his bad behavior on his mother, I say we need to feel for others when they fail because life is very funny. I have seen good people like Prime ministers, doctors, nurses, teachers, preachers, worship leaders in jail. In fact look we now have a pM that we all love and know he was well raised; but if he was in a real country he would be behind bars maybe for life. No, I am not condoning what he did but I feel sorry for the young man
Well, at least he did not complain of someone making him his wife yet. some of these seasoned prisoners tend to beat others to let them know that they the seasoned ones are bosses in the prison and not the officers. Once he submits to this lii treatment if this is not addressed, he will definitely become somebody’s wife like it or not. So partner, get ready to be manauvered from behind
. Just maybe that will teach you to change your doorty thieving ways.
Most of what you usually post is very reasonable, this one is NOT. Why would you make a joke out of a very serious and long standing problem with our penal system? Discernment is totally absent with this particular post of yours. There is a time and place for everything. This is not an issue to satirize. Bad judgment!
@ Ibo: Your opinion respected but I beg to differ sir..
When you commit the crime and get sent up stocky whatever you get be prepared take it like a real man. The same badness you display out on the streets you better do the same up there. I have absolutely no sympathy for CONVICTED criminals. This guy whom I know well deserves what he gets. I sincerely hope someone turns him into a wife against his will. Now he crying but when he was out he was a bad boy. He better get ready to be manauvered from the rear. Nuff said!
WOW!!! shame on you BWA. what has our country become. Why would you write such junk. You don’t know his frame of mind. Do You? I hope all you family are perfect. Maybe you know what you are talking about about being manauvered from the rear!!!!! God bless you . Wish no harm on people and learn to forgive. Mental Illness is real.
WOW!!! shame on you BWA. what has our country become. Why would you write such junk. You don’t know his frame of mind. Do You? I hope all you family are perfect. Maybe you know what you are talking about about being manauvered from the rear!!!!! God bless you . Wish no harm on people and learn to forgive. Mental Illness is real.
Bwa-Banday – I vehemently disagree even more with you. Malcolm X was a hardened criminal and served stiff jail time. He amended his ways and became a great leader and inspired thousands of his followers to become productive citizens.
Let us hope that this guy can have an epiphany and become a productive citizen.
Remember this quote: “To live without hope is to cease to live.”
@Bwa-Banday: I am not surprised about your expert knowledge of prison behavior as your name (Bwa-Banday)says it all.
Had his mother whipped his behind while grow up he wouldn’t have found himself in this situation. The problem with sending people to prison indiscriminately is in itself bad for the community, the prisoners family and the country on a whole. This is a very young man, ( ugly though) after he has served his time in prison, what lies ahead for him? Who’s going to employ him? He will be a threat to his community and he will continue to commit more crimes because he must eat. And you know what type of women we have here in Dominica, they will give him seks and make babies; but on who’s account? He will up his criminal activities because now his has a baby or two. It’s heart breaking when I go around Dominica to see young people sitting around with 4-5 little children and they have no jobs!!! Their life is made up in eat and sleep. And there are thousands of these young people roaming around like cats and dogs. This might sound too strong – but what other way to describe this phenomenon? Sad
Raj Benjamin
It takes just a few seconds to lead a NEW life, so he has it within him to do that. I agree with your statement that our system almost always sends young people to prison….re the man being ugly? I never describe human beings as ugly!
What if he is really being taken advantage of at the prison? He could be truthful in his declaration, so the authorities up at Stockfarm have some investigation to do. Let’s not make light of the fact that this is highly possible. Irrespective of what landed him at Stockfarm, he is still one of us. He has rights too! Come on investigate this to find the truth!
Crime does not pay. However, the allegations of beating and threats to this prisoner should be thoroughly investigated. A prisoner is still a human being and should be treated as such and not like an animal.
@Ibo France: After reading the last sentence of your post “A prisoner is still a human being and should be treated as such AND NOT LIKE AN ANIMAL” I would like to know how animals should be treated.
@Zamy
Most animals should be treated well especially the domesticated ones. I should have added the adjective beastly. My bad! To err is human.
@ Ibo,
yes true is true this is a minor infraction if even that, so good show, showing is what you seem to be good at after constantly seeing your comments on every article I read.
Yet the quickness with which you dismiss your own failings and the vitriolic, intolerance you show others are morally incongruous.
The hate and prejudice you have plastered across this site has a way of perpetuating and will come back to haunt you, I don’t mean karma, it will undermine and destroy the very things you say you support as the false parts of your negativity spreads as it tends to do. You and many Dominicans who think like you (both red and blue) have way more to atone for as you very much part of the problematic thinking and destructive attitudes, your pretentious outlook blinds you.
Well said so much truth in this article. You seem much more intelligent than him also. Yes he breaks down every one that does not agree to his party. I am not Red or Blue but hatred lies in his bones…. Thank you for pointing out the truth
Hmm! Prison authorities should look into his claims of being beaten. It seems he has a genuine fear of being in there.
He should not be afraid. When he was out on the streets he was a bad man like many others. So now he afraid of bad boys
. No sympathy for him.