Woman escapes fine, jail

Telling a policeman that he was “talking shit,” could get you a fine or time in jail. Karen Bart-Alexander, former advisor to Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, found this out in a confrontation with the police on Independence Square, Port-of-Spain, on October 22 this year. Yesterday, she was found guilty of using insulting language to the police and resisting arrest. She was bonded in the sum of $1,500 to keep the peace for 12 months. She was discharged under Section 71, so a conviction will not be recorded.

Alexander’s troubles began on October 22 when she parked her car on Independence Square. She was approached by PC Morris who asked for her driver’s permit. The policeman gave her a ticket for illegal parking but walked away with Alexander’s driver’s permit. Cpl Phillip came up and attempted to pacify Alexander who became highly annoyed that her permit was not returned to her. Phillip said the woman told him that he was “talking shit” In her testimony, Alexander said she told Cpl Phillip, “this is shit.” Cpl Phillip warned her that she could be arrested for using the word “shit”. Alexander then told the policeman he had to be illiterate if he wanted to arrest her for saying “shit.” It was then that Alexander was arrested and taken to the police station.

Alexander’s attorney Felix Celestine submitted to the court that using the word “shit” was not insulting and that it was a word in the dictionary. Magistrate Maureen Gafoor, presiding in the Port-of-Spain Third Magistrates’ Court, said there were other words in the dictionary which were obscene and insulting. “That does not make it right if these words are in the dictionary.” Magistrate Gafoor said she was of the view that if someone tells a policeman on Independence Square at 12.30 pm that he was talking shit, that person is just as illiterate and that amounts to insulting language. The magistrate said she was not impressed with the witness called by the defence. She found Alexander guilty of the two charges of using insulting language and resisting arrest.

Before sentence was imposed, attorney Celestine informed the court that Alexander was a consultant with the Tobago House of Assembly and was a consultant to then Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. He also revealed that his client was the founder of the Women Resource Centre and was well respected and articulative on women’s issues. He asked that no conviction be recorded against Alexander because of her previous good character. Magistrate Gafoor agreed that Alexander seemed to be an articulative and forthright person. “But I must say that Miss Alexander believed that what she was saying that day was correct.” She noticed that Alexander said nothing about being remorseful. Celestine promptly responded by saying Alexander was very remorseful. Magistrate Gafoor then ordered Alexander to sign the bond to keep the peace for 12 months, warning her that if she breaks that bond, she can be returned to the court to be sentenced.