The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
FRIDAY,
AUGUST 04, 2017
VOLUME 111, No.31
www.thevincentian.com
EC$1.50
Magistrate Rickie Burnette has found himself as the target of a request for recusal.
December 10, 2015, the morning after the results of the December 9, 2015 CLOSE TO ONE YEAR after general elections were declared. Magistrates Bertie When the case comes up for hearing Pompey and Zoila Ellisbefore Magistrate Rickie Burnett at Browne recused the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on themselves from September 18, Bacchus-Baptiste is hearing 11 criminal expected to make oral submissions in matters involving relation to a letter she wrote to Nice Radio’s Burnett, asking him to recuse himself. proprietor Douglas In the letter, Bacchus-Baptiste ‘Dougie’ De Freitas, stated that, “The fact that my client his lawyer Kay was slapped with 11 charges some Bacchus-Baptiste is seven months after the date the seeking to have statements were allegedly made, and another recusal in the the charges paradoxically accused my case. client with ‘likely to cause fear or De Freitas is charged alarm or to disturb the public peace’, is on 11 counts of publishing being regarded as highly political by a false statements likely to very large section of the public. cause fear or alarm or to disturb Indeed, both Magistrates, Bertie the public peace. The charges were Pompey and Zoila Ellis-Browne laid in connection with statements he recused themselves from sitting on reportedly made on Nice Radio, adjudication on these matters,
by HAYDN HUGGINS
Attorney Kay Bacchus-Baptiste has been successful in having two Magistrates recuse themselves from hearing a case against her client Douglas De Freitas. Right: Douglas De Freitas is a busy man around the courts here in SVG.
Commissioner of Police Vs Douglas DeFreitas, based on the perception of ‘apparent bias’.” The letter went on to state that, “In fact, Anthony Astaphan, the wellknown lawyer who involves himself in political partisan matters in St. Vincent on behalf of the Unity Labour Party, and who represents the Government in their political matters, was on Radio, Boom FM, politically advising the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to discontinue all matters against Mr. De Freitas (my client). The fact that the DPP has not taken the very vocal and public advice of Mr. Astaphan, and has also so far, refused to give us full disclosure despite an order for full disclosure by Magistrate Bertie Pompey, underscores the public belief that these matters are highly political”. Continued on Page 3.