Attorney-at-law David Comissiong made a sterling mitigation this morning on behalf of a man who admitted having a spliff some time ago.
In addressing the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court, the lawyer said that 58-year-old Ronald David Alleyne could be considered one of Barbados’ “unsung heroes”.
Alleyne, of #90 Husbands New Development, St James pleaded guilty to having a spliff on August 22, 2013. Police found the marijuana on his bed when they executed a search warrant at his home.
Comissiong submitted most of Alleyne’s credentials before Magistrate Douglas Frederick, including that the convicted man gained seven certificates while at Ellerslie School, before going to on the University of the West Indies. Alleyne, a Rastafarian since 1978, was involved in organic farming, leather craft and owns a craft shop.
Alleyne also works within his community by passing on his skills to participants in the Grazettes Sumer Camp annually, Comissiong explained, as well as serving on a Constituency Council and the Caribbean Rastafari Association.
“I would like to ask that Mr Alleyne be given some credit for the very constructive role he has played in this society.” The lawyer then urged the court to consider community service and a period of probation.
Magistrate Frederick disagreed with the attorney’s suggestion.
“There are not too many people nowadays who are volunteering to use their time and efforts to build the community,” the magistrate said.
Since Alleyne was already doing so of his own free will, he saw no reason to impose community service on him. Neither did he consider the previous conviction which Alleyne had 27 years ago.
Alleyne was ordered to pay $250 in court cost forthwith, with an alternative of seven days in prison. It was paid.
“Keep up the community work,” Magistrate Frederick stressed,” but try not to offend because smoking marijuana is still against the laws of Barbados.”