Prosecution Service working to counter fear and empower witnesses to crime to speak up

The newly launched National Prosecution Service (NPS) is making moves to counter fear and empower witnesses to crimes to “Speak Up.”

“Without witnesses, our entire criminal justice system would crumble,” the Director of Public Prosecutions (acting), Sejilla McDowall stated, speaking on the theme, “Speak Up – Share Personal Encounters And Accurate Knowledge, unleash power,” at the House of Assembly last Wednesday.

“The power lies in the hands of our citizens to speak out,” McDowall said. She explained that there have been changes making it easier for witnesses, and that “the courtroom has also transformed, witnesses no longer have to think about entering into the courtroom, there are hosts of measures available.”

On the other hand, Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne recognized that, “it takes courage to speak up and to stand for truth, and not to cower in fear at our own shadows as a consequence of having come forward and spoken.”

Therefore, she stated that there has to be a united effort, “in combatting crime, and ensuring that when persons Speak Up, it will also mean they will be safeguarded, and protected, especially against all kinds of unscrupulous persons who will endeavour to keep their mouths closed.”

In his remarks, the High Court judge that is currently presiding over criminal matters, Brian Cottle, assured, “It should not be the citizenry, which cowers in terror from the outlaw. The position must always be firmly reversed.”

He commented that every day messages are sent by the news and entertainment media that informers are “to be abhorred.”

“You’ve all heard the statements “Informer fi dead”. “Snitches get stitches”,” Cottle noted, and commented that persons should not buy into this mindframe.

“Our citizens must be encouraged, empowered, and indeed, rewarded for revealing criminal activity,” Cottle declared.

Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court(ECSC), Dame Janice Pereira, had high praise for the new publication that the Prosecution Service was releasing for witnesses.

“I am pleased to note that as part of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution’s transition to a National Prosecution Service, it is anticipated that a development of a witness code will be one of the deliverables,” she commended.

Pereira continued that she believed this to be something that the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) can replicate.

The Attorney General Jaundy Martin, delivering the feature address on behalf of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves who was in Cabinet, noted that St Vincent and the Grenadines is a small island state.

“Small as we are, however, we have seen criminal activity in all its worst forms,” he stated, which has made the police and prosecutors capable of dealing with all types of crime.

“Gangsters, hustlers, and transgressors have responded. They have become more violent. They have targeted, and even eliminated witnesses, with the view to circumventing or terminating the work of the office of the DPP. There are pending cases in which principle witnesses have been eliminated,” Martin commented.

However, he assured that the Office had demonstrated and continues to demonstrate that there is no space in SVG for the activities of gangsters, and hustlers.

“The elimination of witnesses and attempts at corruption will not assist gangsters, hustlers and transgressors. The National Prosecution Service is empowered by law to ensure that such persons forget about St Vincent and the Grenadines when they consider crime, and the proceeds of crime,” he noted.