How Barbados has changed, a magistrate mused on Tuesday.
Gone were the days, said Magistrate Douglas Frederick, when Barbadians held police in high esteem and moved at their request.
He made the comments in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court as he marvelled at a 16-year-old girl who had declared to a lawman that no one could question her. The constable had asked for her name and address because she failed to move when he ordered her to do so.
Attiyonah Reanna Cadogan, a student of 2nd Avenue, Pickwick Gap, had just pleaded guilty to failing to obey an order from Constable 2132 Brathwaite to move and keep moving while she was in Tudor Street, The City, on Monday.
However, she denied using abusive language to the lawman.
“When he asked me for my name, I say I am not answering. I say nobody can question me.”
Magistrate Frederick then said: “Things have changed in Barbados. Years ago . . . when you see a police you would respect the police and you would move. Things have changed.”
He ordered a pre-sentencing report, released her on $2 000 bail with a surety and adjourned the matters until May 11.
Prosecutor Sergeant Rudy Pilgrim told the court the lawman was on Tudor Street when he saw schoolchildren congregating in the area of the Main Guard.
He told them to move on since they had no reason to loiter and they did, except Cadogan.(HLE)
