I couldn’t care less whether Man marries Man or Woman marries Woman because all Persons are born with Individual Rights to do whatever they wish with their own lives… This does not change fact that according to the God of Nature & Laws of Balance, proof of Living is ability to Reproduce so if Same Sex Couples fail this test then they lean towards being Non-living Objects.

Let’s remember that this process called Marriage varies in different Cultures and is in effect a legal contract or social union between Persons for Emotional, Sexual, Reproductive, Financial and Religious purposes…Sadly, our short memories disconnect us from History where Slaves were not permitted to marry and their Children were hung for marrying outside their own Race.

Our dependence on Trickle down from others allows them to evolve & progress while we remain shackled to outhouses of stupidity as victims of their Slavery Religions and Jim Crow Laws… Discrimination is discrimination and to pretend otherwise simply turns us from ‘Victimized’ to ‘Victimizers’ready to deny others ‘Equal Rights’ in their private & personal desire to be married.

Alred C. Frett

NB: As always the Self-righteous stumbling Blocks are the same Ones breaking every Law and committing every Sin… They along with Priests & Pastors tongue-lash Kids about ungodliness of Homosexuality even as they habitually seduce & rape little boys & girls placed in their care… Such are the actions of Wicked &Corrupt Hypocrites but we are too afraid to say it as we see it.

Such Persons are committed to only reading & listening to what they already believe and had they not regard Commonsense as a Sin it would be clear that if everyone became Homosexual, the World would end even before we had chance to kill off one another… However, if you agree that Individuals have the Right to Sexual Preference then their Marrying should not be an issue.

If Descendants of Slaves who make Marriage an Issue are not suffering from short Memory and Morning Devotion Syndrome they would know that Hindus, Muslims, Mormons and even David & Solomon of the Bible had multiple Wives & Concubines… The apparent game plan of these Religious Nuts and Bible Punchers is to have us join them in selective amnesia… Brainwashed?

It was in 1926 that a Religious Scheme known as ‘Morning or Daily Devotion’ was started with overt intent to convert Households throughout America & across the World… Luckily, Persons became Educated and the effect declined except in Poor & Black Communities and here in the Virgin Islands where Radio is still used to indoctrinate Children from the beginning of their Day.

In this way our Children become programmed to ignore Reality while believing in Fairy Tales & supporting Thieves … These ‘captured’ Children become confused, illusion & mentally slowed thereby diminishing positive social productivity… Major Nations that once swore they were in-front now find themselves far behind and must struggle to eradicate Religions from their Schools.

Some mis-Leaders will find this exceptionally hard to do as they continue calling on Imaginaries to combat Imaginary or essentially calling on causes of Problems to solve effects of Problems… This will never work for what we need Preachers to do is replace their Webs of Lies & obsession with Same Sex Marriage with the Real Truths & Provable Facts that our Children so badly need.

They may find it difficult to acknowledge Religion as the most Dangerous System in the World but it would be right & proper for Leaders to finally tell Congregations that this World is Round instead of Flat and there are no hidden Heavens in the Sky… This may save them embarrassment because Pandora’s Box is already open – Internet is real & sooner or later Truth shall be revealed.

The dicey conversation began when the host stated that the prison was originally built for just about 60 persons and is now overcrowded with a population over a 100.

He said: “We ought to look at the types of criminal activity that’s putting people behind bars. Some people have expressed the view that, if for example you are caught with a very minute quantity of cannabis, why should you serve prison time for that and if you are serving prison time for that then the numbers in the prison will be high because there are some people who have cannabis for their persons use.

“They are not involved necessarily in selling to other persons it’s just a personal thing, and we know that there are countries in the world that have decriminalised (cannabis). We have to look at various ways to keep the numbers down because I think if we were to do a check and a survey we would find that a large number of the inmates in the prison are on drug-related charges.”

Wheatley added: “I think the time has come, and it has certainly come long ago, when there should be a discussion and a debate about that particular subject. In a number of other countries they are now in the process of decriminalising marijuana use and I think that the time has come for all of us to sit and have a debate and discussion on it, because if you continue to have it as an illegal activity you will continue to have your prison with these large numbers and talking about getting more rooms and adding more rooms.”

Wheatley believes the territory needs to come to an understanding.

“We have condone rum and cigarette smoking, and more and more we are learning through science and so on that these things are extremely disastrous to your health, but you can still go anywhere and buy them very freely,” he noted.

“The time has come, long since when we should have a discussion in a dispassionate way, and we shouldn’t get all worked up, saying ‘well that is what you are in favour  of and you want to encourage that’ and that sort of thing. I think we should sit down like mature people and look at all of the ramifications of these things and come to an understanding. We don’t have to be worried about what another country is doing or how some other person is going to look at it, let us look at it and examine the thing with the facts. If we need some scientific information let us get some scientific information and make a sensible decision,” he said.

A caller to the program announced: “What I don’t understand, you think a vegetable should be legal something that is a vegetable is actually illegal. …. Marijuana should be legal because it is a vegetable substance, it is a herb, it comes from the earth…. It ain’t nothing too dangerous at all; it like food, you don’t have to be frighten of it, it’s vegetable so just stop fighting against it. …it good for us…. They always talking about who on the side of the road smoking marijuana; from Beef Island straight to West End, people on the side of the road drinking rum and smoking cigarettes nobody saying anything about that. A lot of young people doing it too, just drinking, drinking; a lot of these doctors we have around us especially who is premier, minister and politician and such we all use to be young, we all know, so we shouldn’t be preaching about it, we know what it is so let us stop pretending, it is good for us Doug,” the caller said.

The HLSCC Chorale, led by Shelly Urquhart.

The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College’s five musical ensembles will bring the curtains down on the 2011-12 Performing Arts Series with a final concert at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, Paraquita Bay on Saturday 19 May at 8:00 p.m.

The ensembles are led by Dr. Allison Flax-Archer (Woodwind Ensemble), Erica Wattley (Chamber Ensemble), Arthur Selwood (Brass Ensemble), André Braithwaite (Jazz Ensemble), and Shelly Urquhart (HLSCC Chorale).

The Summer Music Fest has become the traditional finale to the College’s annual Performing Arts Series. The musical ensembles are featured two times a year—in late May just prior to graduation exercises and at Christmas time.

As in previous concerts, the ensembles are expected to perform a combination of classical and jazz selections, including a broad range of music spanning many centuries. Tickets are $20, available at LIME, HLSCC Bookstore, Road Town Bakery, UMI Fashions and Sunny Caribbee.

LIME and FirstBank Virgin Islands are platinum sponsors of the College’s Performing Arts Series, while several other local companies have also supported financially. For more information, or to reserve tickets, please call Coordinator of Auditorium Events and Special Projects Linette Baa, tel. 852-7223.

The Jazz Ensemble, directed by André Braithwaite.

May 19th at Trellis Bay Beach front of Boardsailing BVI 8:00 am start.
(7:00 – 8:00 am registration)

If you need help with transport please contact Chris at 542-1981 by Friday May 18th before 7pm for arrangements.

What is the youth development event about?

This is a fun introductory event to Triathloning for all children under 15.  The races will be formatted at a maximum of 1/20th of an Olympic distance.  (75 meter swim, 2000 meter bike, 500 meter run).  There will be relay and individual races.  These races will take no more than 10 minutes to complete.  Form a team or do all three events.

Where will the events take place?

Trellis Bay Beach and Paths

When are the events scheduled to start?

FREE Registration for all age groups from 7:00am to 8:00am at Trellis Bay Beach (in front of Boardsailing BVI)
First Race will be at 8:00am sharp!
Bikes and Helmets will be provided if you don’t have any.
Age groups: under 8, under 11, under 15 (based on child’s age, Dec 31st 2011)

For any questions please contact Chris at details provided below.
542-1981
chris@bsafe.vg

Traffic will be interrupted between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. resepctively. The purpose of this interruption is to facilitate works on the sewerage system.

Motorists and other persons travelling in the area are kindly urged to exercise extreme caution and patience when approaching these areas as there will only be two operational lanes as opposed to four during the specified periods.

The Water and Sewerage Department sincerely regrets any inconvenience that this interruption may cause and asks the public for their patience and understanding.

The Premier and Minister for Tourism Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE and the Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark Vanterpool are expected to give remarks focused on Government’s plans to collaborate with residents to further boost the tourism product and stimulate the economy in the sister island.

For more information please contact the Premier’s Office at 468-3701 extension 2152 during office hours between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The letters can be picked up any time between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, except public holidays. For more information, please call Administrative Assistant to the Dean Alesia Hamm, 852-7104.

It was noted during that appearance that the accused men had secured representation, and they pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob, wounding with intent, and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger a life, before Justice Albert Redhead.

Representation for the accused was recorded as Akilah Anderson for Michael Stevens, Richard Rowe for Jason Stevens, Yohhanseh Cave for Mikhail Howe, Patrick Thompson for Leonard Sprauve and Corrine George for Rodney Simmonds Jr.

The trial is expected to span seven days.

In the lower court it was stated that the alleged robbery took place on Friday, January 21 at Carilink Ltd (Money Gram) which is located between the Fire Station and LIME’s Flagship store.

It was stated that none of the stolen $193,409.33 has been found.

Before asking the jury to submit a not guilty verdict, the judge stated that the case was a waste of time.

“I know the criminal law. I won’t say I know everything… but if after 38 years I don’t know the criminal law now I will never know it. I indicated to you Miss Benjamin and the DPP that there was no evidence…. I think it was a waste of public resources…. you insisted on prosecuting, but prosecuting is your prerogative. I told you in the presence of learned counsel for the defence… it is a waste of my time, the jury time, and a waste of the steno typist time.”

Justice Redhead said he looked at the evidence of the witnesses and noted that none of the witnesses were able to identify the accused. The judge admitted that there were some suspicious circumstances in the matter, but he stated that suspicion cannot be elevated to evidence.

In his no-case submission, Daniels told the judge that the prosecution, in their opening remarks to the jury, said the defendant along with three other persons planned to go into the police station and the defendant was the get-away driver.

“I do submit that there is no direct evidence linking the defendant to the three men caught at the police, and secondly the circumstantial evidence is weak,” Daniels said in his submission.

“The prosecution started off by saying that there was a plan between the defendant and three others caught in the police station on November 24…. A witness said he saw the defendant and others at Pussers chatting and eating, is that a plan? No my Lord,” Daniels said.

The lawyer further told the judge that a witness also testified to seeing his client at UP’s in the pool area, while the others were seen in the bowling area, and asked whether that describes a plan.

Daniels told the judge that there is no evidence of planning and that mere association cannot amount to a plan.

“Officer Claude Rhymer testified that three men entered the police station as was captured by camera, there is no evidence of the defendant giving the others a ride to the police station or near the station. Now I go to the exiting: officer Amandona Priest said she saw someone climb over the fence and exit, and officer Martin, in his deposition, saw someone walking back and forth, but none has identified the defendant,” the defense lawyer said.

Daniels said the forensic officer testified that there was no forensic evidence linking the defendant: “No latent prints were extracted from the door of the defendant’s car matching the other three accused. Nor did he (forensic officer) get any useful DNA profile to prosecute the defendant. There is no forensic evidence, there is no evidence to show the defendant was on Palm Road to be used as a getaway driver, and there is no evidence to show that the three men had intend to use him as the get-away driver.

“The only evidence the Crown is relying on is that the defendant was at Palm Road, seen socialising with them, gave Ramon a test drive, and was in the sports bar while two of the other men were playing pool. Taken as a whole the jury will be faced with a lacuna and having to fill in holes, they will be faced with a great difficulty…. There is no evidence of him dropping them off, scaling the school yard fence. If you take the prosecution’s case, there is no evidence that he was part of the plan, there is nothing before this court, and I will urge you to uphold my no-case submission, and acquit my client,” Daniels said.

Crown Counsel Sarah Benjamin said the crown accepted that its case was not a case with direct evidence, and that was the reason for opening the case, saying that the evidence was circumstantial.

PREVIOUS STORY: Officer attacked in police station robbery testifies

Constable Kevin Prince, the officer who was attacked when masked men broke into the Road Town Police Station, testified in the High Court yesterday, May 15 that he never saw or spoke to the accused Gerard Huggins on November 24, 2010, the date of the incident.

The officer told the court that he saw the face of his attackers when they were unmasked by officers who entered the guard room with guns pointed at the masked men, who surrendered and came out from under the desk.

Officer Prince, who the court heard was struck repeatedly in his head and abdomen by the attacker, said that on the morning of November 24 he visited Peebles Hospital because his head was swollen and he felt pain. However, he noted that he made a follow-up visit on November 25 because his head pain continued.

The court heard that it was Constable Prince that recovered the items the attackers had walked with for the break-in.

“While I was in the guard room on the morning of the incident I picked up the knife, crowbar and gun. I placed them on my desk in the guard room and I was later shown the same knife, the same gun, the same crowbar, by forensic officer Washington. The knife was in a cylindrical case and I placed my signature on said case.  The gun was in a box, I placed my signature on the box,” he told the court.

When questioned by Crown Counsel Sarah Benjamin about his inference of what the men meant when they attacked him and asked “Where is the keys, where is the keys?” the officer said at the time, he believed they were referring to the keys for the cocaine store at the Road Town Police Station.

However, during cross-examination by Defence Attorney Stephen Daniels, the officer said the masked men did not mention anything about cocaine to him.

Daniels also questioned whether it was the normal practice for the complainant, who is also the police officer in the matter, to fill out the first part of the medical form, and he was informed that it was not the norm.

The trial of Huggins, who is implicated as the get-away car driver in the Road Town Police Station break-in, began on May 14.

Huggins is charged with aggravated burglary, carrying an unlicensed firearm, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

In opening the Crown’s case, Prosecutor Benjamin said the Crown intends to call 18 witnesses.

Benjamin told the court that the defendant did not physically go into the police station, but rather he is charged with three other individuals who are his alleged partners in crime. She said Huggins was the get-away driver who stayed in the vehicle while the men entered the police station to steal or commit the offense while being armed.

Following the defendant’s plea of guilty to the charge of unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to supply, Crown Counsel Jude Hanley announced that the Crown was not going to offer any evidence in relation to the other two charges.

Hanley told the court that she was aware that the charges are serious, but stated that because of lack of evidence she has no choice but to offer no evidence.

“It has been almost a year and the Crown has no evidence to link the defendant to the other charges, so I had to take this course of action,” she said.

In laying out the facts of the unlawful possession with intent to supply charge, Hanley told the court that on March 18, 2011, officers executed a warrant at the residence of Leonard. She said that upon getting to the residence officers knocked on the front door, identified themselves and called the defendant’s name.

However, officers reportedly heard a shuffling noise coming from inside the house, and opened the kitchen door that was closed but not locked. Upon entering the building officers observed a strong scent of what was suspected to be cannabis.

The building was checked but no one was found inside. However, the back door was found ajar, and upon searching the building two lines were found hanging from one end of the kitchen door to the other end, with what appeared to be cannabis plants hanging from the same.

These plants were taken into police custody and have been tested by an analyst, which showed that they were cannabis plants. Also found in the home were cannabis seeds which was confirmed by analysis. The combined weight of the seed and the plant is 3.4 kg.

On March 31, the defendant is said to have voluntarily visited the Virgin Gorda Police Station and was caution and informed of the search warrant and the cannabis that was obtained, and he responded: “Officers I have nothing to say about that.”

Leonard’s matter will come up again on May 24.