Cruise Bruise Blog
October 6, 2009
October 6, 2009
Carnival Victory Passengers Found Guilty Of Ruining Antigua Tourism
In the aftermath of an international incident, where six Americans from Brooklyn told reporters they were beaten without just cause over a taxi-fare they didn't agree to, the tourism in Antigua has taken a beating, the real crime in this story, one the group will not be charged with.
Postings around the web told of a brutal police force, who beat innocent Americans because they refused to be gouged by a taxi driver. Many thought the incident was so outlandish, they spewed out hatred for the police and swore to never to travel to the tropical island. Millions following the story around the world were split on who they supported, but nobody was ready for guilty pleas, four weeks into the trial.
Then, the truth began to leak out, as the trial became public, the taxi driver and police testified in court. There were postings saying the trip the 12 passengers had taken in the taxi van was about $120 when they took it, and the $100 seem very fair, with the $50 fare quote unbelievable. Locally the fare is $50, one-way, not roundtrip. The cruise ship passengers facing charges are:
- Dolores Lalanne, 25, social worker
- Mike Pierre Paul, 24, licensed practical nurse,
- Joshua Jackson, 25, airline crew chief
- Shoshonnah Henry, 24, law student and dancer
- Nancy Lalanne, 22, licensed practical nurse,
The five changed their original not-guilty pleas after the evidence against them was presented in court, and then were told they could get jail terms of two years for the crimes, if convicted.
It certainly looked like a conviction was near after hearing of a bite mark on a police officer, so vicious, it required stitches and a tetanus shot, as if she had been attacked by a rabid dog. This was all a very strong dose of truth serum and all of sudden guilty pleas began to look pretty good.
From the beginning, knowing what I do about Antigua and their law enforcement (see tomorrow's blog post), it was hard to believe a police force that is really nothing more than a sign on a building than any real "force" at all was uncharacteristically forceful on such a minor incident.
In fact, this incident at the get go was not even a crime, but instead a civil matter the police had no jurisdiction in at all. The police told the taxi driver that fact when he arrived with the passengers.
Had the passengers all just shut their mouths and acted civilized, they would have walked away clean. But, while the group had the right to remain silent, apparently they did not have the ability.
Nearly half of the dozen passengers in the taxi, insisted on turning the incident into a crime, evidenced by the guilty pleas from five of the six.
Shoshonnah Henry, pleaded guilty to four charges – battery on Constable Cornelia Gordon, malicious damage of a plaid shirt, valued at $54, belonging to constable Gordon, battery on Constable Alcia Browne-Weston and malicious damage of Browne-Weston’s gold chain, valued at $795 and a white and yellow blouse, valued at $120.
The battery charge in relation to Constable Jason Modeste was withdrawn against her and the other co-accused.
The battery charge against Shoshonnah and Nancy for beating Corporal Dee Dee Frederick was also withdrawn.
Jackson admitted to beating Modeste, while Paul pleaded guilty to making use of indecent language. Nancy pleaded guilty to wounding [biting] Corporal Frederick, while her sister Dolores admitted culpability for beating Frederick and for maliciously damaging Corporal Raymond Weil’s watch and one white gold and diamond earring valued at US$3,270.
The prosecution withdrew the wounding and disorderly conduct charges against Dolores and Paul respectively.
Defense attorney Steadroy "Cutie" Benjamin said that Paul’s use of the term "fucking nigger" to a senior police officer is colloquial and used everyday in the U.S.
Let them talk that way to a police officer in their native Brooklyn and see how colloquial our police officers would find the term. I dare to say it is disrespectful, at minimum.
However, Chief Magistrate Ivan Waters reminded the attorney the word "nigger" is a highly degrading word for "black folks."
This of course is something the racist uttering's of Don Imus, who uttered the term "nappy-headed hoes" and Michael Richards who blurted out the word "nigga" to a heckler in his audience can attest to. Black folks don't like derogatory comments based on skin color, when uttered with hatred by persons of any skin color. They are fighting words.
Benjamin also told the court that Shoshonnah Henry, answering to the most amount of charges, had missed so many classed in college this semester, she would have to wait for next semester to continue her studies in law school.
The only questions I have are these. Will the NY State Bar let her in after physically attacking law enforcement in another country? Does that not show contempt for the law? We will follow up on that issue.
After Carnival Corp pulled the Victory from sailings beginning January 2010, the entire island was in an uproar, blaming a $5 million annual loss on the fiasco this group caused. Carnival Corp insisted that pulling Victory was just a coincidence, a decision made long ago.
I address of the Antigua police tomorrow.
Cartoon: Antigua Sun
