I was still working with Justice Don Mitchell, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Judge. The newly promoted Cornelius Charles was inspector in charged of the Traffic Branch, Ralph E. Gonsalves had arranged for the Judge to be transferred to Antigua, because he had the foolish idea, my confident, had something to do with my ...assignment, with the High Court judge.
Ralph Gonsalves had forgotten, when I was assigned at Central Police Station, and was in the station officer, in the presence of Corporal Lenford Brewster who he promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police, and Sergeant Michael Charles who Ralph Gonsalves also rewarded for his dishonesty, when Charles betrayed his sworn duties and female police officer Michele Andrews who was under his supervision, who reportedly was raped by PM Gonsalves. As a result, of Micheal's betrayal, of his oat and his victim colleague, on behalf of PM Gonsalves, Gonsalves used his political power and appoint Michael Charles commissioner of police, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Situation was, Ralph Gonsalve was at the Central Police Station, visiting some clients who were friends of the Brawsha brothers and the Cornel (Noted drugs Barons). Gonsalves and I got into a verbal tussle over the law; and whether the immigrations officers had the lawful authority to detain his clients. Because he was losing the argument, He (Ralph Gonsalves) threw his hands into the air in defeat and declared, "Young constable, I have neither the time not the inclination to hold a legal argument with you". After which, he left the station, he never returned. Needless to say Ralph's clients were deported the following day.
How soon had Ralph Gonsalves forgotten when I was a teenager, while I worked, at the carpentry shop, at the Public Works Department, at Arnos Vale; and whilst attending a Commercial Technical and Allied Workers Union: Shop Steward workshop, I asked him in his capacity of lecturer, some basic questions; base on his lecture that he could not answer. As a result, Gonsalves requested that the union President Alice Mandeville, asked me not to asked him any more difficult questions; because I am making him look bad. Upon my refusal of Alice's request, Ralph Gonsalves cowardly refused to honor his commitment to the Union, to present the evening lecture.
Yet Prime Minister Gonsalves was attributing my confidence, to my assignment to a Judge. Now inspector Cornelius Charles, Cpl. Kenneth “Scratchy” John and a group of dishonest officer in the Traffic Department was looking for dirt on me. It was their plans and intent to ruin my character, and had me fired. However, in order for them to succeed, they must first turned me into a greedy dishonest man. I did not drink, I did not smoke, I did not party like each of them did. and I had a single operator driving school business, where I made money to subsidized my small police salary.
As a result, of my honesty, my lack of bad acceptable habits and my willingness to work for what I wanted, none of their plots worked on me. One day, while I was on duty using the judges' car, I parked the car in the no waiting zone, in front of the Kingstown Methodist Church; while I did some business, I parked the car in such a way that I did not block the church entrance. Although the Judge's cars are privately owned, such vehicles are treated like police vehicles; for the simple fact, they are often driven by an on duty, uniformed police officers, on official police assigned, and government approved duties. Therefore, the police officers' are given the same liberty, as if he or she is driving a police car. For the simple fact it is a police on official police duties.
By this time in Judge Mitchell's assignment the Judge was in his last few weeks on the island, before he moved to Antigua to continue his assignment, with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. However, when I return to the parked vehicle, I met, Cpl. Kenneth "Scratchy" John at the car, he was my senior in rank; as a result, he give me a notice of intended prosecution, which I took. I did not complained to anyone and I did not bring it to the Judge attention.
Some time later, there was a discussion in the Traffic Department office, as it related to serving me with the Summons for court. Most of the officers at the Traffic Branch, weather they liked me or not, thought it was a betrayal, of the officers confidence, to take one of their own, to court for holding different political views, no one wanted to serve the summons. However, junior police officer Nero presumptuously and proudly volunteered to served me the summons. While, I was returning from, the Judge residence, I saw Nero riding one of the little Chinese Motorcycle, he flagged me down, I stopped because we always had a good interaction.
Nero came over to me, he boastfully handed me the summons, and informed me, I have to appeared at Magistrate Court at Calliaquia, on the given date. I accepted the Summons, said ok no problem. After the encounter I drove off and went along my business. Later, I discovered Cpl. John laid a charge against me of Causing a Public Nuisance. A quasi-criminal matter.
When Nero, returned to the Traffic Department after delivering the order to attend Court Nero, Inspector Charles, Cpl. John and a few others had a good laugh, as Nero fabricated the story about our encounter. However a few months later, that same Police Constable Nero was apprehended in Barbados with a shipment of drugs, causing him to be thrown into Barbados prison.
Needless to say, against the police authorities instructing me not to. I showed up to court as a defendant, dressed in the Uniform of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadine Police Force. Confusing the judge who adjourned the case for a later date. Although Calvin Gold-teeth Glasgow and I were not close friends, I overheard him arguing in the office. "How you all could do the one of our own like that. You all have, and are always withdrawing more serious case than the case you brought against Palmer, letting known violent criminals off the hook," and he called the names of criminal examples; people whose names I will not repeat. Then he said, "If that case come up for me to prosecute, I will withdraw the case and I don't care who vex."
While the case was still before the court, Sgt. Williams from the criminal records office, came to me and informed me; he had a discussion with inspector Charles as it related to my prosecution, and Charles told him, If I apologise to him he will withdraw the case. I said to Williams “what should I apologise for? I did not do anything wrong, why should I apologise?” Then I said to him, “I want you to tell Inspector Charles this for me. I continued “I rather go to jail, than to issue a needless apology to him’ He will never see me apologising to him for nothing.”
Some time later, I was at the E.T Joshua Airport after taking Justice Mitchell to catch a flight out of SVG. I saw, the Commissioner of police William Harry at the airport; he was in the VIP Lounge. I doubted the commissioner who was a professed Christian, knew about my prosecution; I said to myself, his principles and Christian honor will never allow this to happen.
Commissioner William Harry, may have been many things, but he was not a dishonest man. I was determined to bring this injustice to his attention. When Commissioner Happy exited the lounge to leave, I approached the Commissioner, I politely said after saluting him in full military fashion; Commissioner Harry, Can I show you something, he said to me, Palmer what do you want to show me. I took out the Summons and showed it to the honorable Commissioner of Police my boss.
He turned his head towards the document in my hands, looks it with squinting eyes, and before I could ask him if he knew about it. Commissioner William Harry immidiately said, I didn't have my glasses, but It looked like the summons that was issued to you by Cpl. John. The commissioner could not have read all that information with one glimpse. His statement introduced me to a knew reality. It was then I realized, the professed christian Commissioner William Harry, not only knew about the whole plan to prosecute me, but give them the right of way to do so, which is required. I then said, to William Harry. Don't worry, I am going to beat this charge in court and when I beat it, I would have overcome the worst thing you all could do to me. When I win this case, you all will be unable to control me. The commissioner got into the waiting car and I went back to doing what I was doing.
However, later the matter was discharged by the magistrate.
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