Magistrate Douglas Frederick too weak, too timid to take on disrespectful police officers.

Accused waiting five and a half years for trial – Barbados Police don’t show for latest court date.

Magistrate Douglas Frederick lets them get away with it again.

Where was Sergeant Catwell?

The charges against the accused are serious. On January 20, 2010, police arrested Michael James Springer for having an illegal gun and ammunition.

Now, five and a half years later, our justice system is just getting to the preliminary hearing but the two main police witnesses didn’t bother to show up for court date known months in advance. One witness, Sergeant Catwell, was on holiday and, according to Station Sergeant Neville Watson, couldn’t be found. The other witness, Sergeant Leslie, was on a training course and so couldn’t attend at court.

Let’s just think about that for a minute, shall we?

Sergeant Catwell knew many months ago that the case was coming to court on July 8, 2015, but he went away on holiday anyway and “efforts to locate him had proven futile.”

Really? On this tiny rock, none of Catwell’s fellow police know where he is? Nobody knows his mobile phone number? Nobody left a message? Nobody knows his email address?

And what training could be so important as to cause a police witness to ignore the court? Sergeant Leslie couldn’t take a morning off his so very important training course to testify?

Obviously the two involved police officers do not respect the courts, the judicial process or their duty to Barbados.

Time for the learned judge to start issuing arrest warrants for police officers who thumb their noses at the court and the law.

Magistrate Douglas Frederick’s statement that it was “unfortunate that Leslie was away on training and was in High Court on the last occasion” is a capitulation to police disrespect of the courts. Magistrate Frederick looks like he is too weak, timid and fearful to uphold the law. Just a few days ago BFP reported in another trial Magistrate Douglas tossed a drug trafficking case when the police witnesses didn’t show up… but Frederick let the police turn their backs on the courts and never held them to account for failing to show.

And he just did it again…

No one-sided justice, attorney tells Magistrate

Terming it “totally ridiculous,” attorney-at-law Vonda Pile asked today that a matter involving her client be dismissed.

Michael James Springer faces charges of having a gun and ammunition on January 20, 2010. The 29-year-old lives at Headley’s Land, Deacons Road, St Michael.

When the preliminary hearing began yesterday, Station Sergeant Neville Watson told the court of the unavailability of the two police witnesses.  

New Moke in production – but will higher crime rates and Bajan gangs kill sales of open vehicles?

The Moke is in production again – this time in China – and the new version remains true to the concept launched by Austin way back in 1964. The car was originally a military version of the famous Austin Mini and was loved by tourists all over the world’s tropical zones. This time it will also have electric and auto-transmission versions.

Can the new Moke reclaim its glory days when happy tourists securely roamed Bajan roads in open vehicles with nary a thought of crime or robbery?

Or will the Boscobel Toll Gang and other Bajan criminal gangs kill sales?

Arson a problem in Caribbean government financial departments

LIAT Airline hangar fire also destroyed certain financial records.

Arson is not just a problem in the Caribbean, but it is a Caribbean problem – particularly in government financial departments

by Peter Binose

Usually arson in government buildings and Ministries is set or caused to be set by someone in the ruling government party – someone or some group that wants to destroy records, before records destroy them.

You may have noticed it’s always claimed to be an act of terrorism, an act committed by the opposition – by anyone except by government themselves.

Its quite amazing that whenever these fires happen it’s very often in the Ministry of Finance or some accounting department holding financial records. And it’s more than often in countries that are in financial difficulty.

Here are a few incidents that paint a picture… 

Will Barbados seize assets without a criminal conviction?

submitted by Green Monkey

In local news reports the US Ambassador is pushing for our legislation to allow for the seizure of assets gained from criminal activity as is allowed under US law. However, under US law you don’t have to be actually convicted of criminal wrongdoing to be deprived of assets, as the cops only have to say that they suspect the seized assets came from unlawful activity.  The onus is then placed on the suspect to prove that the assets were gained lawfully or purchased with legally derived funds.

GreenMonkey is just wondering if Bajans might someday find themselves in similar predicaments. I hope that our legislation will specifically specify that  assets can only be seized AFTER conviction for criminal activity.

See article below from the New Yorker:

Under civil forfeiture, Americans who haven’t been charged with wrongdoing can be stripped of their cash, cars, and even homes. Is that all we’re losing?

by Sarah Stillman August 12, 2013 (full New Yorker article here)

On a bright Thursday afternoon in 2007, Jennifer Boatright, a waitress at a Houston bar-and-grill, drove with her two young sons and her boyfriend, Ron Henderson, on U.S. 59 toward Linden, Henderson’s home town, near the Texas-Louisiana border. They made the trip every April, at the first signs of spring, to walk the local wildflower trails and spend time with Henderson’s father. This year, they’d decided to buy a used car in Linden, which had plenty for sale, and so they bundled their cash savings in their car’s center console. Just after dusk, they passed a sign that read “Welcome to Tenaha: A little town with BIG Potential!”

They pulled into a mini-mart for snacks. When they returned to the highway ten minutes later, Boatright, a honey-blond “Texas redneck from Lubbock,” by her own reckoning, and Henderson, who is Latino, noticed something strange. The same police car that their eleven-year-old had admired in the mini-mart parking lot was trailing them. Near the city limits, a tall, bull-shouldered officer named Barry Washington pulled them over.

Barbados Tourism Disaster: Serial rape victims slam police, government, tourism authorities

Daylight rape near popular beach – scene of 13 reported rapes in past year – tourists not alerted – police did nothing

Police “callous, incompetent, totally inept”

“Barbados authorities are more concerned about protecting the lucrative tourist industry than they are about seeking justice.”

Police “try to brush the rapes under the carpet so as not to damage the overseas tourist market”

Questions about the role of racism in the attacks and lack of police response

British tourist and serial rape victim Diane Davies is going public in a major news story about how she was raped in broad daylight near the “Platinum Coast” Sandy Lane Hotel. On Monday, October 25, 2010 the 62 year old grandmother was beaten and raped at the same spot where another tourist had been raped just two days earlier and where 13 women had been raped in the previous year.

The Barbados Police never alerted citizens and tourists about the serial rapist in the area, nor did they make serious efforts to arrest the serial rapist.

Perhaps Police Commissioner Dottin can explain why he didn’t care enough to order a stake-out of the serial rapist’s chosen spot, or alert women in the area that they were at a high risk of rape?

Instead, and as usual, the Barbados Police played their role in what has become an all-too-familiar story of covering up crime against tourists.

Our government, police and tourism authorities just don’t get it: The way to protect our lucrative tourism industry is to protect the tourists – and when something does happen, to immediately respond with professionalism, massive resources and genuine care and compassion for the victim.

Millions of prospective tourists around the world are now reading…

“The truth is that if a woman  is raped in Barbados, she is unlikely to get the support she needs. There are almost no procedures in place and the police are way behind in how they tackle crime.”

British tourist and serial rape victim Diane Davies in the Daily Mail story I was viciously raped on this Barbados beach but local police cared more about protecting tourism, says brave British grandmother

Memories of murdered tourist Terry Schwarzfeld

Murdered Canadian tourist Terry Schwarzfeld

Our government, police and tourism industry obviously learned nothing from the February 28, 2009 daylight beach murder of Canadian tourist Terry Schwarzfeld. Mrs. Schwarzfeld’s murder came after her killer had committed a series rapes and robberies at the same spot over the course of several years.

The police and tourism authorities covered up the crimes and ineptly left the serial criminal to continue his business at his usual location. That cover-up and incompetence is part of the reason that Mrs. Schwarzfeld was murdered on a tourist beach in broad daylight.

Then when Mrs. Schwarzfeld was murdered there was the usual total lack of proper response from the authorities.

Murder charge against Mark Headley

Accused is boyfriend of victim’s twin sister.

Barbados Today is reporting that a man has been charged with the murder of Patrina Lord. Mark Headley appeared before the court late Thursday afternoon and has been remanded to December 8th. (Photo of accused courtesy of Barbados Today)

The Nation is reporting that the victim’s twin sister, Patricia Lord, was questioned by police and released. Her involvement or knowledge in the case hasn’t been made public but there have been reports that the accused Mark Headley is Patricia’s boyfriend.

Barbados Today: Murder accused remanded

The Nation: Man to be charged with murder

Barbados Free Press (earlier story): Patrina Lord’s body found. Murder investigation underway.

Barbados needs a Registered Crime Offenders Program

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportees

Dear BFP

How many of THESE guys are Bajans, to be returned home to Bim, to be allowed to go free out of GAIA to kill more people in St. George and elsewhere?

Barbados needs a Registered Crime Offenders Program whereby returned criminals are registered and kept an eye on… Not in Bajan fashion (after they’ve done the crime) but before.

Like how they do it in Big Countries.

We ARE a Big Country now, aren’t we???

submitted by BFP reader and old friend “H”

DLP connections protect crooked Barbados lawyer from arrest?

18 years after running off, cocky thief attorney returns to Barbados

Why was Michael Simmons so confident he wouldn’t be arrested?

Everybody knew that fugitive Michael Simmons (photo above) was coming to his sister’s funeral last weekend, and everybody was just as sure that he wouldn’t be arrested for the crimes that caused him to flee Barbados 18 years ago.

What’s changed in the 18 years since Simmons stole millions and ran off? That’s easy: some of Simmons’ family members are now close to the DLP Government.

Reader “Who me?” saw the article in The Nation Simmons back after 18 years and sent us the following contribution. BFP readers should remember that just because someone says something, doesn’t mean it’s all for true.

But there does seem to be a whole lotta smoke ’bout this place recently!

Justice? Rule of Law? For some but not for others.

by BFP reader “Who, me?”

The Nation article about Michael Simmons caught my eye in that I was made to understand that transparency and corruption and the relevant legislation were major concerns for Barbadians, having being promised this by the DLP government of the day.

Now, how can a situation exist where a lawyer, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Michael Simmons having robbed his clients of their funds and absconded to the United States can return to Barbados as if he has not care in the world? Which in my estimation Mr. Michael Simmons doesn’t have a care in the world.

David Clarke murdered in Bermuda – Family in Barbados grieves

Victim was to visit Barbados family for his birthday

Our heartfelt condolences to the family of David Clarke Jr., who was gunned down on Sunday only a few days short of his 27th birthday. Sister Janelle is a lawyer in Barbados and is headed to Bermuda for the funeral this weekend.

Full details are in the Royal Gazette Online

Welcome home Richard!

Barbadian loses deportation appeal in USA

“Richard Carrington petitions for review of a decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”), which dismissed his appeal from an Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) final removal order. For the reasons below, we will deny the petition for review.”

Drug dealing Barbados Police Officer found dead

RBPF Constable Torey Brathwaite dies at father’s home

The police aren’t saying much other than 25 year old Torey Brathwaite was found by his father on Thursday morning. There is no indication if drugs or foul play are suspected.

Constable Brathwaite had been suspended since he was arrested in December 2008 for possession and trafficking in cocaine. The amount of drugs involved was over a kilo, so this man was no little fish. Oh sure, a kilo of coke is not a shipping container, but it’s not a couple of baggies of herb if you understand what I’m saying here.

I’m sorry for his parents, his family and his school friends who say he wasn’t a bad fellow, nevermind his recent new troubles and that bad decision two years ago that cost him so dearly.

Mostly I feel sorry for Barbados and yes, for Commissioner Dottin, and for the many many good police officers who give it their best every day as they try to make do with inadequate equipment, poor laws and a budget and salaries that mock our claim to be the Caribbean’s premier high end tourist destination.

Barbados wife tries to murder husband’s pregnant mistress with chemical weapons

Cheat on a Barbadian woman? You’ve got trouble!

Sex, lies and chemical/biological weapons…

On the heals of a story involving BLP Member of Parliament Rawle Eastmond’s spurned mistress who went crazy, we woke up to find that another spurned Bajan woman went a little crazy too. The problem is that Betty Bond is a microbiologist and she decided to use her knowledge of chemical and biological weaponry to murder her rival – who used to be her best friend!

Hey boys… thinking of cheating on your Barbadian wife? Time to have a Banks beer and think about what you got. Bajan women tired of all the lies.

signed,

Shona.

Carol Anne Laletta Bond, (known to her family as “Betty”) a native of Barbados, lived outside Philadelphia and worked as a microbiologist. As a federal appeals court succinctly summarized the relevant facts in the case: “Bond was excited when her closest friend, Myrlinda Haynes, announced she was pregnant. Bond’s excitement turned to rage when she learned that her husband, Clifford Bond, was the child’s father. She vowed revenge.”

… continue reading this story at CNN: High court to hear case of woman convicted of chemical weapon crimes

Barbados High Court Judge: Public execution murders and witnesses won’t testify, undermining courts.

When the police cannot or will not protect witnesses, can we expect anything else?

High court Justice Randall Worrell (above) is worried about a trend that is undermining our court system and threatening the very fabric of our society: after witnessing their friends murdered on the street in execution-style killings, witnesses don’t want to testify to the point that they are changing their stories or running off the island.

Well, do ya think? Consider that most of the time when the police are called, they take their own sweet time to arrive. A month or so ago there was a gun battle at a football match in Boscobel and the police never arrived for almost an hour! At the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary shots were fired the police never came at all.

Cave Hill students grieve for Roderick Reid, murdered in Jamaica

UWI Law Student stabbed over the weekend

Our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Roderick Reid, who was expected to return to his studies at Cave Hill yesterday.

Roderick’s body was found on Saturday in the boot of a car in Kingston, Jamaica.

That’s about all we know at this time. If anyone has a photo of Roderick, we would include it. Roddy was well liked and had many friends.

Barbados school children dive for ground as man shot near playing field

Police spokesperson: “The children were not in danger”

On Tuesday morning, 10:40am, during school hours, 150 children and 3 teachers of the Springer Memorial School were at the Blenheim Playing Field when a 23 year old man was shot twice near the western end of the playing field. News reports don’t say how many shots were fired in total.

The teachers yelled at the children to lay flat on the ground as the gunshots rang out nearby.

Royal Barbados Police Force public relations officer Inspector David Welch has the idiocy to say “From the reports, the children were not in danger.”

That’s not a very intelligent statement from the Inspector for a host of reasons, not the least of which is that wild pistol fire has been responsible in the past for deaths at great distances. According to the law enforcement range charts on the internet, a 9mm pistol round can be lethal (not accurate, but still lethal) to 2,400 yards and still impact at 350 feet per second. Even a little .22 bullet can kill at one mile.

What really irks me as a parent is this senior police officer telling us no worries, the children were safe. That is nothing but spin and parents are not stupid enough to buy into that spin. Inspector David Welch lost all credibility with me.

(name withheld by request)

Further Reading

Nation News: Shooting leaves man injured

Barbados Chief Prosecutor: Woman “provoked” her killer by refusing sex, therefore not murder.

Attention Women’s Rights Advocates around the world.

Barbados women had better not withhold sex if they know what’s good for them

No, this outrage didn’t happen in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. It happened in the Caribbean island nation of Barbados where our Director of Public Prosecutions – DPP, Charles Leacock (above photo), dropped a charge of murder to manslaughter because the murdered woman had refused sex and therefore “provoked” her killer.

It’s even more sordid than that. The murdered woman couldn’t pay her rent and her killer had offered to pay the rent in return for sex. When she changed her mind to this extortion, she was beaten to death.

DPP Charles Leacock has a record for abusing women and the law

This is not the first time that DPP Charles Leacock has been caught excusing or participating in violence against women. When his tenant Ronja Juman fell behind on the rent, Leacock had his corrupt police officer friend raid Juman’s home in the middle of the night to terrorize Juman and her children. The police dragged her off half-naked to the police station where her vagina was searched for money and the lease agreement.

Yes, you read that correctly. The object of the raid and the search was, according to the faked search warrant, Juman’s copy of the rental agreement with Leacock. The police looked up her vagina for the evidence, but it was really all about teaching Leacock’s tenant a lesson. Now she and other single mothers know what happens when you don’t pay your rent to a landlord who is arguably the most powerful man on the island.

In another case when his corrupt police friend was charged with accepting bribes, DPP Charles Leacock secretly withdrew the charges as we and everyone else predicted.

Here is the full story of the latest outrage as printed in the Barbados Advocate. You should read the story at the newspaper’s website, but we print it in full because Barbados news media tends to modify or delete news stories to change history.

Women have a right to say no

1/9/2011

I cannot believe what I am reading, in January 2011, the second decade of the 21st century.

That human rights can be so trampled and Barbados dragged back into the dark ages by a judicial officer so steeped in male macho culture that a woman desperate to pay her rent is lured to his house by a man who promises to help, then when she changes her mind about sex in return for the money, she is murdered and according to the newspaper report: “the Director of Public Prosecutions said he accepted a manslaughter plea based on provocation (my emphasis), because Griffith went to Pile’s home and when they were about to have sex she changed her mind and he got vex.”

Barbados Police Commissioner reveals truth: There is no new plan.

Dottin earlier said he didn’t want to reveal too much. Now we know why.

“Steps are being taken to ensure that the legislative framework is there to facilitate…”

In the wake of two separate shooting murders last weekend, The Nation Newspaper called up Commissioner Dottin on January 2nd and politely asked what the Royal Barbados Police Force was doing to address escalating serious crime. As we reported on January 3rd, Dottin mouthed some buzz words and told the reporters he “didn’t want to reveal too much” and that “the full matter would be addressed at a Press Conference this week with media personnel.”

The Commissioner held his press conference on Thursday, January 6th, and unless every journalist there is conspiring to withhold details of the new police plan from the public, the simple truth is… there is no new plan, no new response and nothing really to report.

Oh… our Commissioner of Police did say that thieves target laptops, gold and diamonds. Imagine that. Thanks, Commissioner!

Royal Barbados Police Force a house divided

Journalists’ leadership questions dog Commissioner Dottin at RBPF press conference

“…so emboldened, the deputy sought to make a complaint against the top cop – no one is sure if this is related to the connected matter or if there are other details in addition to the open fracas? Yet when the review of 2010 with Crime In Barbados unfolded today at Police Headquarters at Roebuck Street – Bertie Hinds was conspicuously absent!

This led Peter Thorne from CBC to query if there was still disagreement between the two officers and Commissioner Dottin declined to respond, then almost immediately afterwards, Mike King of the Nation asked if the top cop has any plans of announcing a retirement in the near future and again Dottin refused to answer! Usually such declinations are left to die on the vine, but in the interests of all Barbados it needs to be made clear…”

from the Bajan Reporter article Power Play between Police Commissioner of Barbados and Deputy remains simmering