This country’s Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne says that she takes the possession of cocaine extremely serious and when such persons are found with same and is convicted or found guilty her only option is to impose a jail term.
However Kendal Sterling from the villages of Fountain and Biabou counted his lucky stars when she had a change of heart and imposed a fine of $350.00 upon him to be paid forthwith or face a two month jail term after he was convicted for having in his possession one rock of cocaine in an area called Jamaica in the community of Hamilton, Bequia.
The Court heard that on November 17th, 2017 members of the Rapid Response Unit were on routine patrol when Sterling was seen sitting on a porch of a dwelling house and began acting suspiciously.
The police is said to have stopped the vehicle and proceeded to the porch and approach Sterling and requested a search on his person which led to the discovery of the drug under the rim of a cap he was wearing at the time. This led to his arrest.
In his defense Sterling told the Court that he does not deal with dangerous drugs and that it was the police had planted it in his cap.
However, in response, the magistrate told him that she did not believe one word that he was saying and that he was only trying to discredit the good officers.
She pointed out further that the officers were only carrying out their duties on behalf of the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in an effort to curb the presence of such dangerous substance which is destroying many people’s lives.
By St Clair Charles
