When will the unjust harassment of PM stop?

12.SEPT.08
Editor: A private criminal prosecution was brought by a policewoman against the Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in January 2008. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Colin Williams, used his constitutional authority to discontinue the prosecution because of insufficient evidence{{more}}. The lawyers for the police lady applied for judicial review before a female judge, Justice Gertel Thom. She ruled in favour of the DPP’s decision. The same lawyers appealed the Judge’s ruling to the Court of Appeal; they lost.

Without new evidence, on August 28th, 2008, the same lawyers filed a new private criminal complaint again. The President of the Family Court, Her Ladyship Colleen Mc Donald, refused to issue any summons to Dr. Gonsalves. In a ruling, made under the relevant law, she stated that the lawyers’ application was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the process of the Court. She further stated that their application amounted to “unjust harassment” of Dr. Gonsalves.

When Colin Williams discontinued the matter, the same lawyers and the opposition NDP said that the DPP was politically biased. The NDP stayed out of Parliament, saying that “Ralph must step aside”. The High Court and the Court of Appeal (three Judges) ruled in the DPP’s favour. The opposition NDP said that because of this, they want to keep the Privy Council. Yet, the Opposition returned to the House rather than risking by-elections in their three seats. They look ridiculous.

Now that the President of the Family Court has ruled, the same lawyers are grumbling about something being wrong with the administration of justice. The local Courts (High Court and Court of Appeal) ruled that Mr. Othneil Sylvester (Nicole’s father) be disbarred for this handling of a land – money issue for the Danes at Orange Hill Estate. The Privy Council agreed. Is something wrong with the administration of justice in this, too? Is it when you lose that the administration of justice is lousy? So, Ralph has no rights; the Danes have no rights; the DPP has no authority.

The President of the Family Court is the daughter of Jeanie Mc Donald, who is on the NDP Executive and is the Secretary of the Human Rights Association which called for Ralph’s political head. Would the Ralph-haters say that the President is politically-biased too? There is no way that Jeanie could be vex with her daughter in applying the law as she sees it.

The people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are fed up with this whole thing. Let us get on with our lives. The ins and outs of this case no longer interest the people. The criminal legal process has worked but the lawyers and the NDP do not like the results. What next? Threaten the DPP, Judges and Family Court President? The policewoman should distance herself from these lawyers.

By the way, are the drug barons and money-launderers whom Ralph has moved strongly against fuelling this matter further with money and threats?

And let us see in the next elections whether the people will vote on performance and leadership or on unsubstantiated allegations about Ralph and sex. Remember Bill Clinton?

Carlson Richards