Defense Lawyer Chesley Hamilton was the specially invited guest on Freedom Fm’s Issues on Monday, to highlight the recent arrest of American Rapper Curtis “50 cent” Jackson whose performance at the 20th SKMF on Saturday Night was laced with profanities.
Jackson who subsequently appeared at the Basseterre Magistrate Court on Sunday with his body guard was released after both paid EC $3000, on the charge of making use of indecent language. Hamilton addressed the matter of the antiquated and outdated laws on the books that pertain to the use of indecent language.
Hamilton said it is a waste of the State’s resources to be prosecuting an individual today for using indecent language. Hamilton indicated it simply does not add up when violent crime and murders are running amok in the federation and resources are being utilized to prosecute possession of marijuana and indecent language when more serious crimes are being committed.
Meanwhile SKN Ambassador for Sports and Youth, Jonel Powell supports the decriminalizing of marijuana. Powell told Freedom Fm Issues audience on Monday during an appearance by senior counsel Chesley Hamilton, that he supports decriminalizing marijuana and getting rid of the notion of picking up people for small quantities of marijuana.
Powell said the state’s limited resources are being wasted on locking up a man for a spliff. Powell who is also the head of the Music Festival Artiste selection sub-committee also weighed in on the recently concluded SKMF 20.
He indicated that it was an overwhelming success but said the case of 50 cent being charged for obscene language was also a case of wasting the state’s resources. Powell said the contract signed by the rapper and his group did provide for the exclusion of profanities from his act.