Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Mar 28, 2023

Smith Shocked! Says Walwyn may have jeopardised pending case

Smith Shocked! Says Walwyn may have jeopardised pending case

Local attorney Jamal Smith has indicated that Former Education Minister Myron Walwyn may have jeopardised his pending court case with the public statement he made after being arrested and charged with breach of trust by a public officer.
Last week, Walwyn issued a lengthy statement professing his innocence and intent to vigorously defend himself after being charged with Breach of Trust in relation to the controversial Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) perimeter wall project that reportedly suffered major cost overruns years ago.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was not pleased and called the statement an “erroneous and unfounded” attempt to “adversely influence the potential array of jurors who will eventually decide his fate” in a likely trial before the High Court.

Speaking on the Talking Points radio show on November 7, Smith said he was shocked when he saw Walwyn’s statement, especially since the former Education Minister is a lawyer and knows the implications of making public comments about a matter that is before the courts.

“I was extremely shocked to have seen a qualified lawyer who should know better, putting out such a statement,” said Smith who is the former chairman of the Labour Arbitration Tribunal. “Any lawyer will tell you ‘do not say anything once you have been charged’. These are criminal investigations, you do not speak about them. You do not try criminal matters in public.”

He said Walwyn’s statement has incensed (angered) the public and may push the DPP to take certain measures to ensure that the case is not further affected by public opinion.

“The question the judge now has to answer is ‘can these people get a fair hearing in this territory?’ That’s the other issue you might run up against and I’m wondering whether the DPP is preparing herself for a bigger play. There are some bigger plays she can make because of what has happened in the public domain,” Smith said.

However, he did not state what “bigger plays” the DPP may take.

The community has had mixed reactions to Walwyn’s statement. Some say he should have known it was wrong to make a public statement while others have championed the former legislator’s right to free speech.

However, Smith said people should know that the right to freedom of speech has limitations.

“People seem to have the wrong impression of what freedom of speech does. It doesn’t give anybody the right to say anything they want in the public domain. There is no absolute right other than the right against torture.”

“You have a right not to be tortured or subjected to inhumane punishment. Every other right has numerous exceptions – including the right to free speech. You have to be careful when you exercise that right to free speech,” Smith said
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
Close
0:00
0:00
AOC explains why she opposes banning TikTok
I have a dream, MLK inspiring speech
UK: Humza Yousaf replaces Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and first minister in Scotland
Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day
In a dramatic U-turn against His Government: Judicial Reform Legislation Must Be Halted, Says Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
BVI Freedom Song
Gordon Moore, a co-founder of Intel Corporation, died at 94
Billy Preston - You Can't Beat God Giving (Live)
Powell: Silicon Valley Bank was an 'outlier'
VIRGIN ISLANDS REGGAE CARIBBEAN RIDDIMZ
Donald Trump arrested – Twitter goes wild with doctored pictures
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins - Anthony Brown w FBCG Combined Choir
NYPD is setting up barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump arrest.
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir
Credit Suisse's Scandalous History Resulted in an Obvious Collapse - It's time for regulators who fail to do their job to be held accountable and serve as an example by being behind bars.
National Anthem of the British Virgin Islands - Oh, Beautiful Virgin
Home Secretary Suella Braverman tours potential migrant housing in Rwanda as asylum deal remains mired in legal challenges
Hello Dolly
Paris Rioting vs Macron anti democratic law
for KING & COUNTRY - Amen (Reborn) [feat. Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Wi
'Sexual Fantasy' Assignment At US School Outrages Parents
Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up
Credit Suisse to borrow $54 billion from Swiss central bank
Yes He Can
Russian Hackers Preparing New Cyber Assault Against Ukraine
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Jeremy Hunt insists his Budget will get young parents and over-50s back into work
Unforgettable
If this was in Tehran, Moscow or Hong Kong
Touch The Hem Of His Garment
Nashville police officer, and a female driver shooting one another
The Lord's Prayer
TRUMP: "Standing before you today, I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War III."
THE GOD MOVEMENT...BEAUTIFUL BVI
Mexican President Claims Mexico is Safer than the U.S.
Siyahamba
A brief banking situation report
Ray Charles And The Voices Of Jubilaton, Oh, Happy Day
Lady bites police officer and gets instantly reaction
Ramblin' Rose
We are witnessing widespread bank fails and the president just gave a 5 min speech then walked off camera.
Protoje - Who Knows ft. Chronixx
Donald Trump's asked by Tucker Carlson question on if the U.S. should support regime change in Russia?.
Pressure - Virgin Islands Nice
Good news: The U.S. government is now guaranteeing all deposits, held by, Silicon Valley Bank, and the funds are available as of today
Phil Wickham - House Of The Lord
Silicon Valley Bank exec was Lehman Brothers CFO
My God Is Real (Yes, God Is Real)
In a potential last-ditch effort, HSBC is considering a rescue deal to save Silicon Valley Bank UK from insolvency
The Lion King Circle of Life by LEBO M. — LIVE at the HAVASI Symphonic
BBC Director General, Tim Davie, has apologized, but not resigned, yet, following the disruption of sports programmes over the weekend
Louis Armstrong - When The Saints Go Marching In
A Mississippian man, who was once considered a “ticking time bomb,” has lost a whopping 165 kilograms! What motivated this incredible transformation?
Kanye West Sunday Service - hallelujah, salvation, and glory
Elon Musk Is Planning To Build A Town In Texas For His Employees
Jonathan Nelson - I Believe (Island Medley
The Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse effect is spreading around the world, affecting startup companies across the globe
From The Virgin Islands Sqad Up
City officials in Berlin announced on Thursday that all swimmers at public pools will soon be allowed to swim topless
Common, John Legend - Glory
Fitness scam
Anthony Evans vs. Jesse Campbell - If I Ain't Got You
Market Chaos as USDC Loses Peg to USD after $3.3 Billion Reserves Held by Silicon Valley Bank Closed.
I have a dream, MLK inspiring speech
A primitive judge in Australia sparked outrage when he told a breastfeeding woman to leave his courtroom for being “a distraction"
Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day
Barcelona is feeling the heat as they face corruption charges over payments to former vice-president of Spain's referees' committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira
BVI Freedom Song
Senator Tom Cotton: If the Mexican Government Won’t Stop Cartels from Killing Americans, Then U.S. Government Should
Billy Preston - You Can't Beat God Giving (Live)
Banking regulators close SVB, the largest bank failure since the financial crisis
VIRGIN ISLANDS REGGAE CARIBBEAN RIDDIMZ
The unelected UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, an immigrant himself, defends new controversial crackdown on illegal migration
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins - Anthony Brown w FBCG Combined Choir
Old clip of Bill Gates saying Ukraine is a big, fat, corrupt sinkhole is going viral
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir
Man’s penis amputated by mistake after he’s wrongly diagnosed with a tumour
National Anthem of the British Virgin Islands - Oh, Beautiful Virgin
In a major snub to Downing Street's Silicon Valley dreams, UK chip giant Arm has dealt a serious blow to the government's economic strategy by opting for a US listing
Hello Dolly
JP Morgan Becomes First Bank to Predict UK Will Avoid Recession
for KING & COUNTRY - Amen (Reborn) [feat. Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Wi
JP Morgan Becomes First Bank to Predict UK Will Avoid Recession
Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up
How do stolen goods end up on Amazon, eBay and Facebook Marketplace?
Yes He Can
It's the question on everyone's lips: could a four-day workweek be the future of employment?
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
×