Lawyer wants police to train to solve murders

A Lawyer has argued that police officers could be training to solve murders in St Vincent and the Grenadines instead of kicking down doors searching for marijuana.

Ronald Marks made this comment in mitigation for Glen Louisien, a 22 year old labourer of Castries, Saint Lucia, who appeared at the Serious Offences Court alongside Peter Minors, a 45 year old farmer of Arnos Vale, before Senior Magistrate, Colin John on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. The men were charged that on August 26, 2024 at Arnos Vale, they had in their possession 2132 grammes of cannabis with intent to supply to another.

Louisien pleaded guilty to the charge while Minors entered a not guilty plea. According to the facts at about 11.10 a.m a party of Rapid Response Unit Officers, headed by Police Corporal 615 Williams were on mobile patrol in the South Central district. While travelling along the Arnos Vale public road, PC 1034 Harry saw a man coming from a liquor and provision shop with the name Brooklyn, and noticed that he placed a transparent package into his right front pants pocket. The police vehicle came to a stop and PC Harry and other officers alighted the transport, approached the man and Harry identified himself and the other officers to the man. When questioned about the transparent package, the man responded, “I just buy by Brooklyn shop”.

Minors later arrived at the shop and identified himself as the shop owner.

He told the police that he sells weed sometimes.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled drug and subsequently charged for possession of a controlled drug.

Prosecutor Renrick Cato told the court that Louisien entered St Vincent and the Grenadines legally and that he has no previous convictions. Lawyer Ronald Marks, who represented both men in the matter, said that Louisien has two children, aged one and three and that he cooperated with the police. Marks pointed out that Louisien has no aggravating factors, and was not granted bail in the matter.

“He was deprived of his liberty,” Marks told the court. He also noted that Louisien works with Minors “who I don’t know they lock up,” and had already served a one day sentence in this matter. Marks argued that it has already been five years since the Medical Marijuana Act was passed. He questioned how could there be justice when locals are getting arrested for drug offences and business places in SVG are “selling that like nothing.”

Marks also said that police officers could be training to solve murders in SVG instead of kicking down doors for marijuana. “If there’s no justice, there’s no peace,” he continued.

Louisien was fined $1,500 to be paid in one month or face three months imprisonment. The magistrate also ordered that the drugs be destroyed. The charge against Minors was dismissed.