BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN what may be the first case of this nature in the Caribbean region, a female secondary teacher in neighbouring St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is facing two charges of obscene publication she allegedly posted on Facebook.
News reaching this media house states that Jozette Bibby-Bowens, a 37-year-old Belmont resident who teaches Information Technology, Electronic Document Preparation and Management and Accounting to Two and Fifth Formers at Bishop’s College Kingstown, St. Vincent, appeared in court last week Tuesday (Mar. 3) charged under Section 284 1(a) of Chapter 171 of the 2009 Revised Laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
According to I-Witness News, Bibb-Bowens was charged for the purpose of distribution or public exhibition, she did make obscene writing, to wit, “Ralph yo should shame to congratulate the new government of St. Kitts. They must tell you all yo mother**t.” (Asterisks added)
The SVG leading daily news source said she was also charged under the same section that, for the purpose of distribution or public exhibition, she did make obscene writing, to wit, “Wanna does rassh**e feel the facking country is wanna own. They must jail your mother**t now. Alyo does mek power get to alyo head, but even the longest rope have an end.” (Asterisks added)
She allegedly made the statements on Tuesday, February 17, 2015.
Bibby-Bowens was arrested at the school and claimed that while at the police station she was not offered a phone call, but a friend who heard of the development contacted a lawyer on her behalf.
She also complained to the media house about the way she was allegedly treated by the police.
“I asked them when I was at the school to allow me to use the bathroom and I had to beg the guy to allow me to use the bathroom because I have a kidney problem. They weren’t allowing me to do anything. My son’s father came there. They seized his phone. They took his phone and had him there telling him he cannot leave.”
She was however placed on station bail on the condition that she would have to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning (Mar. 3) or she or her sister would have to pay EC$1 500.
Prior to her court appearance, the teacher told I-Witness News that she was innocent of the charges and her lawyer, Senator Linton Lewis of the New Democratic Party said: “Now that is what it is alleged was said. They said it was said on Facebook...I don’t know how they are going to prove that she made these statements.”
At a Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, the prosecution suggested that the station bail which she was earlier granted be continued and that she would re-appear in court on Tuesday (Mar. 17).
On the day after the court hearing, according to CMC, the Public Service Commission had instructed that Bibby-Bowens be suspended “in view of the criminal proceedings which have been instituted against you”.
The media house also stated that in a confidential letter sent to the teacher by Chief Personnel Officer Corinne Gonsalves, she was told that she had been suspended on half pay “with immediate effect”.
“Further, pursuant to Section 45(5) of the Public Service Commission Regulations, you are restricted from leaving the country without the permission of the Public Service Commission,” the letter reportedly indicated.
It was reported that the SVG Teachers Union indicated that the alleged use of the Major Crime Unit in Bibby-Bowens’ arrest, for whatever reason, might be analogous to the proverbial sledge hammer to kill an ant.
The Union also indicated that while it recognises free expression and does not condone violation of the laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in any form, the reported grounds for and manner in which the teacher was brought before the law are cause for grave concern.
The Teachers Union further reportedly said that it stands resolute in support of Bibby-Bowens since the law presumes one is innocent until proven guilty.
