Jozette Bibby-Bowen, the teacher who was on Monday slapped with two “obscene writing” charges in connection with posts she allegedly made on Facebook was on Thursday suspended from duties on half pay.
She was also restricted from leaving St. Vincent and the Grenadines without the permission of the Public Service Commission
Bibby-Bowen was informed of her suspension via a “confidential” letter from Chief Personnel Officer, Corinne Gonsalves.
Gonsalves, in her letter, told Bibby-Bowen that she has been instructed by the Public Service Commission to inform the teacher “that, in view of the criminal proceedings which have been instituted against you, you should be interdicted from your duties.
“Accordingly, you are hereby interdicted from your duties as a Teacher V, St. Clair Dacon Secondary School, assigned to the Bishop’s College, Kingstown, Ministry of Education on half salary with immediate effect, in accordance with Sec 45(3) of the Public Service Commission Regulations, Cap 10, Laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Revised Edition, 2009,” Gonsalves wrote.
“Further, pursuant to Sec 45(5) of the Public Service Commission Regulations, you are restricted from leaving the state without the permission of the Public Service Commission,” the letter said.
Bibby-Bowen, who teaches Forms 2 to 5 the subjects of information technology, electronic document preparation and management and accounting, pleaded not guilty to two charges of obscene publication when she appeared before a magistrate in Kingstown on Tuesday.
The prosecution suggested that station bail, which was granted on Monday, be continued and the Magistrate set March 17 for the next court appearance.
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) on Tuesday expressed “serious concern” about the manner in which teacher Bibby-Bowens was treated by law enforcement authorities when she was arrested in the staff room of Bishop’s College on Monday.
“The alleged use of the Major Crime Unit, for whatever reason, might be analogous to the proverbial sledgehammer to kill an ant,” Wendy Bynoe, public relations officer of the union said.
The Major Crime Unit, which conducted the investigation that led to the charges being brought against Bibby-Bowens, is more commonly associated with homicide investigations.
“While the union recognises free expression and does not condone the violation of the laws of St Vincent and the Grenadines in any form, the reported grounds for and manner in which the member was brought before the law are cause for grave concern,” Bynoe said in the statement.
“The SVGTU stands resolute in support of the member since the law presumes innocent until proven guilty. In the meantime, we continue to support members’ right to continue to share their views on national issues,” Bynoe said.
I am not one who encourages persons to break the law and if one does they should be prosecuted but since when “bussing a tweed” becomes a major crime? The Major Crime Unit have nothing else to do wth all the major crimes in SVG?
Maybe, just maybe, our law enforcement is not so slowly turning into our local Ton Ton Macoute. Our local mongoose gang. If it looks like a duck and quack likes a duck, then you know what…… Must be so we like it.
No surprise here, I expected this. I hope this teacher will only be suspended and given a reprimand to future conduct.
I am going to go out on a limb here and predict that the court case against this teacher will be thrown out for lack of standing. The DPP or who will have to show the courts, who it is that has suffered some direct or substantial injury or be likely to suffer such an injury from the comments on facebook, if this particular wrong is not redressed.
Who has suffered injury from these comments on facebook? DPP, YO MOTHER CALL YOU…LOL
Watch a time. Vincy really gone.
why everyone making a big fuss aboutthe situation.flat out she is dead wrong she can vent her fustration else where rather than taking to social media. if any can used social media as a wepon to carry out disgusting behavior then the police have all right to act. Giving the fact that she is a teacher who might get her students as her friends on that same site
POLICE HAVE NO RIGHT TO ARREST THE WOMAN FOR THOSE COMMENTS! UNLESS HER COMMENTS INJURE SOMEONE OR THREATENED THEM…HER COMMENTS ARE NOT CRIMINAL. AS A TEACHER SHE SHOULD BE REPRIMANDED…BUT TO BE ARRESTED? GTFOH.
TEACHERS DEY MOLESTING PEOPLE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL…AH NAH HEARING FOLKS TALKING ABOUT ARRESTING DEM, THE MOST THAT HAPPEN THEY GET TRANSFER TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.
PEOPLE SHOULD BE MAKING MORE THAN A “FUSS”…THEY SHOULD BE ON THE STREETS PROTESTING THE POLICE FOR THEIR OVERZEALOUS ACTION…
DE, ARE YOU A PURITAN? YEAH MUST BE…LOL
You are a very silly person if you cannot see beyond the obvious
Can’t leave the country? Damn, even Mrs Marks was allowed too leave the country.
She go learn: wear red.
Biggest pile of crap I have ever heard. Unless I am missing something here, which I doubt. The only crime committed here is the crime of stupidity. A total waste of poor tax payers money. Major Crime Unit because a teacher used profanity on social media? Give me a break! This country is going to the dogs. FAST!
So how comes Hank King wasn’t arrested for his threat to Brian Alexander on National Radio? Major Crimes Unit for this matter is so silly. That teacher used Social Media to vent her frustration and anger against a regime that is running the country like a Mauby Shop.