Internet down

My Internet Goes Down and all Hell Breaks Loose. I am back on line now. No internet service between Sunday and Wednesday. And, what happens? All hell breaks loose over the internet. I start getting dozens of emails that I am unable to access or to read. I just read them today. They tell the same story.

It is all about the gunfight at the OK Coral of Island Harbour. At least, in the original gunfight, both sides were equally armed. There, the best men won. It was different in Island Harbour. Tyrone went there with no gun or weapon of any kind. All he wanted was to be paid some of the money he was owed. He had been a faithful employee. He has a wife and small child to support. And, he was not getting paid for the time he had worked. He took his wife and small baby with him. No doubt, the idea was to have their presence help to stir up some sympathy. And, how was his simple request to be paid his wages met? “Get the f*** out of my yard!” And, with that, a gun is pulled from the waist band. A shot is fired. Tyrone and his family scatter. They are terrified. They run to their car. Tyrone’s brother and sister are police officers. He knows what to do. That same Friday evening he reports the incident to the Police Station. That was the proper and correct thing for him to do.

And, how do the police respond to the report? Do they jump in one of their several vehicles and storm out to the well known house in Island Harbour? Isn’t that what they would do if the same report was made about you or me? No, my information is that they waited until Tuesday to make the arrest. They had to investigate? If it was you or me, would they wait four days before they made an arrest? Do they investigate for four days before they make an arrest every time there is a report of a gun being pulled and fired by a known suspect?

Well, at least the accused had not in the meantime disposed of the gun. You would think he would have done so. He had plenty time. He obviously did not think of it. Or, he thought he was above the law.

That was not all. Not only did the police find the gun. My information is that it was an unlicensed gun he was carrying. Presumably, the ammunition was unlicensed too. That is a separate offence. So, not only does he pull a gun on an unarmed man. He fires the gun. Not just at a grown man. He fires it in the presence of a young wife and child.

And, what is someone like him doing with an unlicensed gun anyway? What sort of example is this for our young men? Has he been showing off the gun? Are the young men of Island Harbour carrying guns just trying to copy his example, their hero?

The sad part is that now that the police have had a chance to talk to Tyrone, he may have lost his will to help with the prosecution. I am not saying there is a connection. It is just strange that, at first, he runs to the police to report a crime. Now, he is said to be no longer interested in assisting the police with their inquiries. He has had second thoughts about prosecuting. He is now saying that all he wants is his money! Is it that he was terrified at first, but now he is more terrified?

Not that there is much chance that his employer will pay him. Tyrone is only one of several creditors who are unpaid by this same individual. He is under financial pressure. That may partly explain why he behaved the way he did. He may be stressed out. But, lack of funds does not mean that Tyrone cannot get paid. There are too many family members depending on this gravy train. No way they are going to allow blind justice to take its course. I am certain that the money can be found.

I hope someone warns Tyrone that this is not his case. It does not belong to him. He has no say in whether or not to prosecute. It is not just he who was a witness. There were others present. That is all he is, a witness for the prosecution. He cannot legally tell the police to drop the case. This is a case that belongs to the public, the people, the state. If he refuses to testify as to what he knows about the commission of a serious offence, he must come in the witness box and say so, and let the judge deal with him. If he is thinking of accepting money not to testify, you must warn him. He would be committing the misdemeanour of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He could be the only one ending up going to jail.