Atibon Campbell, a 17-year-old resident of “Pole Yard”, Arnos Vale, was remanded into custody Monday when he appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate Court on a charge of indecently assaulting a medical student from the United States.
The incident is alleged to have taken place at Cane Hall, West St George, on March 1, 2017.
Campbell was not required to plea to the indictable charge when he appeared in court.
He was remanded into custody after the prosecutor, police constable Shamrock Pierre, objected to bail on the ground that he was on bail on another charge when he allegedly indecently assaulted the medical student.
Magistrate Bertie Pompey upheld the objection and remanded Campbell into custody.
The prosecutor asked that the matter be transferred to the Serious Offences Court. The magistrate granted the request.
Campbell is expected to appear before the Serious Offences Court on March 20.
I read this article with great interest and I ask myself what is the government actively doing to combat crime in svg,more so crimes against foreign nationals such as medical students and tourist who contribute to our economy. The main question to be asked, is why are we so reactive when it comes to fighting crimes as oppose to being proactive, the police force which,I may add is not a major fault of theirs, still have to combat crimes with the 1970s and 80s methodology. The same amount of police stations still exist today, that were in existence 30 to 40 years ago, with an increasing population and more sophisticated criminals in our midst. There is none or little technology available in fighting crime and crime prevention, this is something that seriously needs to be addressed. Also the Police Stations do not have vehicles to respond to reports on time and also to carry out effective patrols to deter and apprehend criminals. To this end I am very much flabbergasted that in this day and age, a police constable is prosecuting in the Magistrates Court and yet we wonder why these serious cases get dismissed at the appellate stage of the judicature. In my humble opinion, I strongly believe the Police Force needs a complete overhaul and put the young educated persons in the strategic positions to effectively manage the limited resource of this struggling organisation. The Police Force is the only remaining institution where, someone who does not possess a complete secondary education can make it pass a middle management position and have not even tried to develop themselves any further. To this end I speak as a reasonable and prudent vincy and say much more can be done to impede crime and the causes of crimes in svg.
Seventeen and out on bail. Then he allegedly committed indecent assault on a female. What next? This young man needs help. Parents? Where are they? Social Services? Child Welfare? Obviously this minor has had problems before. Now he is in custody. Where? With criminal adults to teach him more crime? SAD!!
Gone are the days when parents had control of their children and could discipline them. Thats where the problem began and thats where it should be addressed. The respect for law and order is also on the decline all because the children are not afraid of anybody.
Look we have bigger problems of a similar ilk in higher places.