Criminal perpetration, felonies and misconduct have no perimeters in terms of who commit them, as has been witnessed for some time across the region. Long gone are the days when the nondescript man in the street would be culpable alone for grave indiscretions and heinous behaviour.
What, however, has become a disturbing trend is the overlapping actions of independent institutions which, to build political stocks or for political patronage or political allegiance, overstep their borders to save those from a fate sealed in doom beyond repair...
Who could ever forget the American citizen who tried unsuccessfully to file a complaint of rape against the then premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands–Michael Misick with the local police? After testing positive for rape in Miami, the victim returned to Turks and Caicos and successfully filed charges against the premier; after months of delay, the then sitting attorney general Kurt De Freitas dismissed the case for lack of evidence. This inevitably sent a tsunami of anger and outrage throughout the island.
Even more incredulous, what about the saga with then police commissioner of Guyana, Henry Green, who was placed on leave following an allegation that he violently raped and forced a 34-year-old mother of two at gunpoint! The Director of Public Prosecutions ordered that rape charges be laid against the then police commissioner.
Shockingly, the Chief Justice Ian Chang later intervened and stopped the DPP from laying charges, citing insufficient evidence. Under their constitutional arrangements the Chief Justice has such authority over the DPP.
What about the matter involving Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves? It is a matter of public record that he has twice been publicly accused of indecent assault and rape by a female member of his security detail and by a Toronto human rights lawyer.
Beyond the adventures of Huckleberry Finn and transcending anything imaginable in Harry Potter, the DPP there overtook private prosecution brought on behalf of the alleged victims and then mysteriously, more amazing than Mumford the magician, both cases were discontinued.
It must not escape us what happened to St Lucia's senior cabinet minister Lorne Theophilus and senate president Claudius Francis who were both arrested and charged with rape–and then, like taking a purfiying bath in the Nile River or the Ganges, the matter was settled out of court.
Right here in our beautiful land we have famous politicians who are very talented–politician, service provider, villager loverboy and father Teresa (taking care of friends and family). Let us hope and be thankful that we have an Office of Public Prosecutions that is insulated from the political directorate and assuch we would not suffer the soap opera outcomes that other islands have faced at the whims and fancies of self-serving politicians.
The DPP must act swiftly and without fear or favour to resolve the Gated affairs, the loverboys intrigues, and the sacrifical Ram flight or fright...Please help our revised Mother Teresas and Robin Hoods out with their calling...
Carlyle Hinkson
Diego Martin