WHAT A SHAME

I weep for us, Jamaicans. So the police arrest and charge a man (family man, with 4 children under 18, youngest 10) for smoking ganja, possession of ganja and dealing in ganja. Client had less than 3 ounces. This was on Wednesday, the police deny station bail and keep him in lock-up until this morning. He pleads guilty on 2 charges (possession and smoking) and is fined a total of $3,300.00 or time in prison if fine is not paid. We plead not guilty on dealing. It gets worst, the law, s.22(7)(e) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, provides that once you have more than 8 ounces then there is a rebuttable presumption that you are dealing. Turns out man had 3 ounces, so an element of the offence was not made out. When brought to the Magistrate’s attention and that we would then not plead guilty, she promptly caused us to know that my client would remain in custody until first week in July as no bail would be granted. when I weighed everything and discussed with client we pleaded guilty. Guess what was the fine, $600.00 dollars, yes $600.00. I weep for us.