Jamaican national, Dean Scott, has won the appeal against his six-month sentence in Barbados late last year for breaching the eastern Caribbean island s COVID-19 protocols.
The Barbados Court of Appeal, in its decision on Thursday, ordered that Scott s prison sentence be reduced to two months.
The decision was handed down by Barbados Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham, and Justices of Appeal Rajendra Narine and Margaret Reifer.
In reacting to the court s decision, Jamaican-born attorney practising in Barbados, Michelle Russell, said the effect of the judgment is that Dean Scott was deemed a free man from the time the court hearing concluded this morning (Thursday), only subject to the observance of the strict COVID 19 protocols for his safe release from prison.
Prison staff among those appearing in court
Article by February 18, 2021
Two prison officers appeared before the law court today separately charged with breaching the COVID-19 protocols.
They are Ainsley Raymond King, of 3rd Avenue Alleyne’s Land, Bush Hall, St Michael and Kenlarry Cain, of Rosehill, Newbury St George.
Police charged King with leaving home on February 16 between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. when he was not part of an essential service or had an emergency. He is further charged with not wearing a face mask, face shield or face covering on the same date.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes.
Barbados Today February 11, 2021
A crack cocaine abuser has agreed with the Crown that he is a danger to society and as such was not mounting a defence regarding bail.
Dwayne Elmore Cumberbatch, 33, of no fixed place of abode, now has the roof of Dobbs prison over his head for at least the next 28 days.
Cumberbatch was remanded to Dodds until May 3 in connection with four burglary charges allegedly committed in January and to which he pleaded not guilty before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes.
The prosecutor Victoria Taitt objected to bail telling the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that having no fixed place of abode was not “normally an issue” but in Cumberbatch’s case he was well known to the justice system.
A Jamaican man who was imprisoned for six months late last year for breaching COVID-19 protocols in Barbados, is awaiting a date for the hearing of his appeal against the conviction.
Dean Scott, a 49-year-old mason who was unable to pay a fine of BAD$6,000 immediately on December 31 for breaching the eastern Caribbean island s COVID-19 protocols by leaving a quarantine facility to purchase items, was promptly sentenced to prison time.
His attorney, Andrew Pilgrim, has filed an appeal of his conviction, but a date is yet to be provided for the hearing of the case.
In an update on Scott s situation, Jamaican-born attorney practising in Barbados, Michelle Russell, said Pilgrim has been able to update his client on his case.
Actress pays $12,000 in fines, leaves island
Article by January 7, 2021
The court does not show “favour” in its consideration of those brought before it on COVID-19 breaches says the island’s Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes. Rather, guilty persons are subjected to a “means assessment” to find out whether they can pay a fine, he said as he ordered former British reality television star Zara Holland to pay $12,000 for violating the island’s COVID-19 protocols.
The money was to be paid in seven days, with the alternative of seven days in prison. The fine was paid later in the day.
Weekes had also warned that the court would, “through the auspices of INTERPOL”, issue a warrant for Holland’s arrest if the money was not paid within the stipulated time before releasing her on $20,000 bail in the meantime.