By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
FAMILIES for Justice is fighting for two former police officers whose conviction on illegal gun possession was quashed by the Court of Appeal.
Rev Glenroy Bethel, founder and president of FFJ, claims that the officers – Renardo Glenroy Bethel (his son), and Deon Morris were falsely charged and imprisoned, despite a “lack of evidence” against them.
“Five hard long years have past since the police in Grand Bahama have charged these two former police officers and placed them in a position where they could not take care of their families effectively,” he said, in a statement released to The Tribune.
“We take this stand today and come together with these two officers and demand justice for them being incarcerated for two months – this was a clear violation of their constitutional rights to imprison them falsely.”
Constable Bethel and Corporal Morris were charged in January 2009 for possession of a number of illegal firearms, including a semi-automatic pistol, an assault rifle, a revolver, and an assortment of ammunition. They went on trial in the Magistrate’s Court last May.
Last June, they were found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison.
Constable Bethel filed an appeal. On March 14, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction and sentence.
Rev Bethel said they are seeking answers from the Commissioner of Police.
“This ruling from the high court raises some serious questions for Families For Justice and other members of the public as to why were they charged by the police for weapons they did not have?” he asked.
“Several letters have been sent to Mr. Greenslade and he responded to one of those letters. He replied that our organization Families For Justice should direct our concerns to the Attorney General and the Chief Justice.”
However, Rev Bethel thinks the officers are owed some sort of explanation from the Commissioner after what they have had to endure.
“It is the Commissioner of Police’s duty to the public and to these former officers to answer the question: Why were these officers in Grand Bahama charged falsely…?”
He claims that the actions of the police have put the Bahamas government in violation of the constitution and international human rights laws.
“Therefore, our organization calls on the Commissioner Of Police to explain to the Bahamian public how was this possible for these former officers to be charged and be sent to prison if there was no evidence to support the charges. It is clear that something went wrong with the police in Grand Bahama.
“Therefore, we call on Mr Greenslade to say to the former Police Officers and their families, the Families For Justice organisation, and the public, how this happened, and why was this allowed to go on for five years. And what he as the Commissioner Of Police intends to do regarding the abuse of authority by the police in Grand Bahama, in regards to these former police officers,” he said.
Comments
steplight 10 years, 11 months ago
No Man, Woman or Child shall ever be Slave or Bondsman to anyone or their Labour exploited or their Lives frustrated by deprivation - Does the penal code and constitution really have any value in the Bahamas. If so then these two officers along with the RBPF first female dog handler deserve to see punitive damages. The RBPF unaware processed Pauline Ferguson in the field of ponerology for 30 years. Did Police Constable Ellison Greenslade in October 1985 at Government Grounds arbitrary arrest and put into exile a Bahamian female citizen of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for following the lawful orders of The Prime Minister of an independent country. Lynden Pindling as host at the CHOGM 1985 summoned Pauline Ferguson #1572 to speak with Rajvi Ghandi about his fate dated May 19th 1991. He had enquired of her what was her outlook for his life after which he canceled his resignation decision, only to continue in Indian Politics. Why did Greenslade ask Ferguson his fate before this event took place and then go on to be totally silent and indifferent after being told a high rank was guaranteed [January 4th 2010] prior to his transfer to Special Branch.Why did Ellison Greenslade refuse to see Ferguson in late November 2002 when an armed man broke into her father's house, aimed at her forehead and would have killed her execution style.Why did EG not see that as officer in charge of Grand Bahama Island it would be noted he permitted police officers to not take a call from three different police stations, take 2 hours to turn up at the assassination attempt on the life of a former female police officer and that his non involvement in her being harassed, taunted, forced to move ten times within a two year period, have seven house breakings within a seven week span with the police laughing at her make one wonder why would they even use the word crazy. Why is it that after stripping a female in 1993 of everything while telling her that the force has the last say in her life , that the economic crisis of 2013 speaks volume of how trusting in GOD to do for her what she cannot do for herself prove his Faithfulness in such a small country. Why would expolice officers and EG not see that taking two years to issue a Bahamian passport and not allowing a female whose grandmother's promise to leave her lawful inheritance which was held by the government AUTEC LEASE 1980 when she died leaves on to question WHAT IS THE RIGHT OF NATIONAL BAHAMIANS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY AND IF GOD DOESN'T INTERVENE WHO WILL.
steplight 10 years, 11 months ago
The above are facts which coupled with the fact that in 1981 just before R.M.Bailey Senior High School graduation, a British Expatriat chemistry went into what appeared to be a trance and hours before his death outlined that Pauline Ferguson at age 17 years of age would experience 30 years of eternal hell as her lot [December 13 1982-2012]. She was falsely accused of his execution style murder by a police officer who was laughing when he came to say she was the person who did it. Ferguson wanted Glenn to explain why the message which appeared as though no human being would have been able to endure it was said infront of other fellow classmates,instead of private one on one. Glenn never showed up again and the ending of his message revealed that the hope for the social issues of the day would revolve around that Ferguson had to say to the nation who would only then be waiting to hear her experience. What was intended on being evil by humans, GOD used it by allowing her not to even take quarter of a million dollars in cash when offered it in private by a familiar face. She ended up having to sleep in her car, eat from the fruit trees in a yard without anyone ever understanding to whom much is given much is required. LOVE OF GOD, PEOPLE, ANIMALS AND COUNTRY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE IN DEMONSTRATING HOPE IN A NATION WHERE FOR THE PAST 49 YEARS THERE WAS NOTHING BUT GOD LEADING THE WAY FOR WHICH GRATITUDE FOR ALL THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE MAKES IT WORTH THE WAIT. Mr.Glenn was suppose to be the receipient of her finding a job and repaying his kindness with visits to the school, having lunch which never took place.SO IN MEMORY OF A MAN WHO GAVE HIS LIFE WITH A MESSAGE, THE BAHAMAS MUST ARISE FROM THE DUST AND ASHES TO DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE EARTH.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID