The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune. THE Nassau Guardian reported on February 4, 2012, that a businessman was fined and given probation after police collectively found 1.5lbs of marijuana on his person and his business storage and conference room last year. The defendant, Charles Major III, was allowed by the prosecutor to plead guilty to simple possession of drugs as opposed to possession of drugs with intent to supply. My limited knowledge of the drug trade tells me that 1.5lbs of marijuana sells for $1500. A package of dope sells for $5. This means that the defendant collectively had 150 $5.00 packages. This is comparable to a businessman having 150 half pints of Bacardi Gold in his possession and telling the police that he intended to drink all of them. I think it is fair to say that Mr Major won himself a stroke of luck. The magistrate did say that the number of packages in the defendant's possession implied that he was intending to supply others with the drugs. The defence lawyer said that Mr Major came from a prominent family and was actively involved in the sporting community. The prosecution apparently agreed with the defendant's prominence in society and did not charge him with possession with the intent to supply. I wonder what Corey Clarke must now be saying in prison. He was found with 6.5 ounces of marijuana at a business establishment earlier this year. He also pleaded guilty to simple possession but this was refused by the prosecution and as such he was given the mandatory sentence of four years on January 17, 2012, by the magistrate for intent to supply. Justice in the Bahamas, despite efforts by the government in its crime package bills last year, is still not balanced and questionable at best. Will it be fair to say that Mr Clarke does not come from a prominent family? At least no mention was made of this by the defence. We can't expect our citizens to continue to respect and have faith for the law if they continue to witness "others" receiving preferential treatment. DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau, February 7, 2012.