Anatomy of a Crime

By: Joe Coye

I am extremely disappointed in the dismissal of the malicious prosecution case against Alfred Shackron and I have been strongly advised by my lawyer to appeal. But this case must not be taken in isolation. It must be placed in the proper context of what I strongly believe to be a concerted and sustained smear campaign driven at first by a vindictive hatred and then by an insatiable greed to destroy me and consequently my family not just politically and financially  but certainly character-wise.  This debased and vile campaign has its origin in the pre-election campaign by my political opponent who then described me on radio as his enemy.

The facts and circumstances underlie my firm conviction. First it was the FIRE BOMBING of the ministerial vehicle immediately in front of my home in the wee hours of the morning while my family and I were asleep. The lives of my entire family were at great risk. That was a cowardly act and the product of a vile mind that was prepared to win at any cost.

Next it was a flyer with a picture of my son’s home suggesting his house was financed by corrupt funds. Then it was a memo purportedly coming out of the lands department attached to a flyer saying that fifty-seven lots were sold to me for a total of $4,000. How absurd.

And then in the euphoria of their post-election victory rally the now Minister of National Security, apparently inebriated by more than the exuberance of the victory, shouted words to the effect that he would jail me. This was followed by the post-elections attacks.

First, it was the placing of cautions in February 2008 on the fifty-seven lots in the University Heights project for unknown reasons. The title holders were penalized clearly with the intent to smear me. After ten months of frustrating attempts the cautions were lifted. Then just two weeks later the cautions were placed again repeating the same frustrations until the cautions were finally lifted in January 2009. But that was not to be the end of that.

On January 14^th, 2009 a civil suit was filed against me and Mr. Florencio Marin alleging that we colluded to sell government lots measuring 90ft.x 60ft. for $4,000 that should have been sold for $20,572.44. Again, how absurd.  These were undeveloped swamp lots with no electricity, no piped water, no roads or streets, not even an access road to the subdivision. These were all provided at the expense of the title holders. The charge was dismissed by the Chief Justice as being inappropriate. The decision is being appealed.

Concurrently with the above there was a sinister move afoot, the worst of them so far. A criminal act was being concocted against me. In March of 2008 I was reliably informed that at least two attempts were made to pressure Alfred Shackron to sign a prepared declaration knowing it to be untrue.  On the 25^thApril, 2008, I was arrested. The case was adjourned to the 10^th day of July, 2008. On the 24^th day of July, 2008, the charge was dismissed for lack of evidence. Important to note in this synopsis: 1) The prosecutor refused to make the police file available to us despite the exposure requirement. 2) When we did get the file despite the refusal, we found where the investigator’s report to the DPP clearly stated that he was directed to make the arrest before he could make an independent investigation. Is this justice?

And then the last attack, so far, was delivered at the heart of the family’s over-ten-year business venture in Placencia. It is now apparent that the conspiracy to tarnish my name as a professional public accountant was not enough. They must now destroy us financially.

A 10 acre parcel that is the first phase of our multiple-site tourism-residential project was “confiscated” by the Minister of Natural Resources in July of 2009, ostensibly for a nature reserve. This was once 10 acres of swamp land that we had fully developed with a marina over several years.   This matter is now before the court.

I bear no hatred for the human worth for that would be an unbearable burden. But I do despise the acts of hatred against my family and myself. I harbour no irrational anger for that can blind me to the good in humanity, but I am angry. And I will be relentless in the pursuit of justice.

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