Tiyani Behanzin says he will resign

Less than two months after being sworn in as a magistrate, Tiyani Behanzin is threatening to resign.

Behanzin, son of the later Roosevelt Douglas described his appointment to the bench in April  as”the realization of a dream and homecoming…”  Today, that drream has turned into a nightmare.

At the heart of the matter is a case involving the overturning of one his decisions by another magistrate.

Speaking on Kairi;s ‘Heng’ on Tuesday, Mr. Behanzin said a recent decision to have Mr Armstrong Drigo, a convicted felon from Portsmouth released from prison after he had sentenced him to four years imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and two counts of possession of illegal drugs is cause for serious concerns.

Subsequent that decision, Drigo was granted bail by another magistrate.

According to Police Public Relations Officer Christopher Laville who, a search warrant for Mr. Drigo’s premises in Glanvillia Portsmouth was conducted on Friday, May 15 at about 6:00am. In the process “a quantity of cannabis weed, a 1.32 pistol and seven rounds of .32 ammunition were seized.”

Laville said Drigo pleaded guilty to all the charges read to him, and was sentenced to two years imprisonment for possession of illegal firearms and another two years for possession of ammunition. Drigo was also ordered to perform 150 hours of community service on each count of possession of illegal drugs on his release from prison.

Describing the development as unacceptable behaviour, Mr. Behanzin contends that the decision to release Drigo from prison has demonstrated that the legal system has undermined his judicial function in the country

Behanzin said that at the time Drigo appeared before the court he was also awaiting decision on another matter involving two fire arms and drugs. He went on to say that Drigo should not be out on the streets since he is on suspicion of a murder, violent burglary and other criminal activities.

Mr. Behanzin, is the son of Dominica’s 5th Prime Minister, the late Hon. Roosevelt Douglas. He described his appointment to the bench in April as “the realization of a dream and a homecoming…” It would seem however that dream has turned into a nightmare.