Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 05, 2025

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
0:00
0:00
Close
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
Hungary Partners with China to Boost Electric Vehicle Production
‘Vibe Coding’ Emerges as the New DIY Trend
AI Pioneer Yoshua Bengio Warns Models Can Deceive Users
Big Four Firms Rush to Create AI Auditing Systems
Musk’s xAI Pursues $113 Billion Valuation in New Share Sale
Walmart Increases Revenue Despite Shrinking Workforce
Hims & Hers Plans UK and EU Launch of Replica Obesity Drugs
Toyota to Acquire Supplier in $33 Billion Buyout
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
×