Dear Editor,
The DPP never seems to surprise me. It is so depressing to read her “recommendations”. Recently, by way of correspondence dated April 22, 2024, addressed to Ms. Tameika Clarke, Magistrate at the Suddie Court, and citing article 187 (1) (c), the DPP requested that a matter before the court, involving one Mohamed Fawaz Bacchus, a businessman of Essequibo, be discontinued. Editor, for clarity to your readers, this is what article 187 (1) (c) states, “to discontinue at any stage before judgment is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or her or any other person or authority.” In my view, this particular section gives the Office of the DPP sweeping powers.
Editor, the letter to the Magistrate failed to give reasons for discontinuing the matter. This was strange, because it was the Police who brought an action against Mr. Bacchus for misconduct against another citizen. I think the DPP should have shown cause in her letter why the matter must be discontinued without Mr. Bacchus facing the court.
Let us juxtapose the recent actions by the DPP in the matters of ACP (retired) Paul Slowe, et al, who were charged for misconduct in public office in 2021, and that of Hon. David Patterson, who faced trumped up charges. Both matters were heard and dismissed but the DPP has stated that the decisions will be appealed. In June 2023, then sitting Minister, Mr. Nigel Dharamlall, was accused of sodomising and raping an underage indigenous schoolgirl. Despite the public outcry, the DPP did not recommend that he be charged. Mr. Dharamlall subsequently resigned under public pressure and the complainant was denied her day in court.
Yours sincerely,
Annette Ferguson, MP
