| The speedy
trial and deportation of Joylin Ross has left too many
unanswered questions. One cannot ignore the facts and
assumptions of this case. I'm sure that some of the
players involved are feeling glee and breathing a sigh
of relief at this moment while the lady and her Nevisian-born
daughter are back in Guyana.
Okay, the lady was
found guilty of taking a cell phone into the polling
station on election day and that was an illegal act.
Did she take a photo of her vote? If she did, that
would also have been illegal. The court could not
prove that and therefore that charge was dismissed.
The charge of taking a cell phone into the polling
station could have been laid against many of us who
inadvertently or otherwise, committed the identical
infraction. No serious noise has been made on that
issue and no questions have been asked about that
fact.
My article last week
on this subject brought chastisement from a friend
who said to me, "If you know the facts surrounding
that woman you would not write in the paper".
Well, I tried.
The photograph allegedly
taken by the lady as proof of whom she voted for was
by accident or otherwise, not saved or was deleted.
Now here is where the story gets interesting. The
charge against Ms. Ross was dropped, no evidence that
she took a picture existed. Strange? Not really.
If we follow the happenings
around this place, the question of honesty generally
leaves amazing impressions. Was someone ordered by
one in authority to delete that picture?
Ok, let's pass on
to the punishment for taking the cell phone into the
booth. Three thousand dollars ordered to be paid by
the convict and to be paid within 6 months. Does the
amount seem reasonable for this felony? Not many people
griped about that.
Then, you know what?
The lady was deported within four days of her conviction?
What damage control is likely to take place during
Ms. Ross' absence from the island and who will it
benefit? When will Ms. Ross be allowed to return to
Nevis with her native born daughter? The interest
in this case might die but too many effects therewith
will be left to tarnish this community and, especially,
the alleged players who were involved with the harassment,
bribery and threatening of the lady.
Ms. Ross' side of
the story must be told. Her testimony can shed light
on the culprits we have among us who are bribing,
threatening, harassing and intimidating people, especially
non-Nevisians.
I think it is imperative
that we know what transpired, this act is not personal
any more and an investigation must be carried out
if any sort of confidence and trust is to be placed
in our authorities. Is any government minister(s)
or any other politician involved with this alleged
bribing, harassment and intimidation? Is there any
hierarchy that had dealings with the matter? Who is
this "party financier" the lady allegedly
spoke to after she was arrested and was given the
"I not going to jail for any body response"?
What were the arrangements and involvement with the
premier's ministry secretary? Why was Ms. Ross here
beyond her given time and could now pay her $3,000
fine?
Most likely, the questions
will come after the lady speaks, where is the proof?
Where is the evidence? We do not want proof and we
do not need evidence. We simply need to hear Ms. Ross'
story. In the absence of that, a great injustice would
have been served and we the people of Nevis might
not have any idea who the real criminals among us
really are, and that is dangerous.
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