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Donville Inniss Victim or Criminal?

Former Minister Donville Inniss

The blogmaster couldn’t avoid the noise generated in the local newsfeed covering the return of former member of parliament Donville Inniss. Inniss was incarcerated in the United States for breaking money laundering laws and suffered the embarrassment of being deported last weekend.

Inniss served his time and is free to continue with his endeavours in idyllic Barbados, UNLESS, local authorities intend to prosecute a matter that originated in Barbados. There is a good chance local authorities will allow the Inniss matter to die in the spirit of a few protecting the many which is the mantra of the political directorate.

The blogmaster will not judge the Don except to say many are not as convinced of his innocence as he is.. It would be in the interest of local authorities to give Donville his day in a local court so that he can expose the lies of the ‘pale face people and house niggas’ he referred to in his home coming media orchestrating. 

Barbadians should keep in memory that another local, Alex Tasker has an extradition matter pending – if successful – has the potential to shed additional light on the matter as it relates to how local actors assisted in the crime Inniss was convicted in the USA. The fight against extradition by Alex Tasker a former local employee of ICBL and Ingrid Innes former CEO domiciled in Canada have the potential to keep Inniss in the unfavourable glare of the public for some time. 

Commonsense suggests the political ambition of Donville Inniss has been extinguished. However, the blogmaster joins with concerned Barbadians to fuss against the inability of the political establishment to materially commit to rooting white collar corruption. Do not bother to refer to Barbados’s standing on the Transparency Index, a measure based on a perception shaped by players who are mainly responsible for the current state of affair.

On a related note the blogmaster read about the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) meeting advertised, a joint zonal meeting today (26 March 2023) with former candidates Michael Lashley, David Estwick and Neil Marshall promoted to speak. Sometimes so much more can be conveyed by simply making and observation without commenting.

In God we trust!

323 responses to “Donville Inniss Victim or Criminal?”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    Inniss was considered PM timbre by who?

    Can you name 5 other politicians in Barbados or the region who suffered incarceration to receive wide acclaim to support your argument?

  2. MTG loon Avatar
    MTG loon

    “Can you name 5 other politicians in Barbados or the region who suffered incarceration to receive wide acclaim to support your argument?”

    To paraphrase the MTG loon some of the best leaders like Nelson Mandela and Jesus have been arrested like the Don

  3. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    Now, now @David I very carefully said “… scandal scarred politicians were resoundingly acclaimed by their constituents”.

    There are very few instances of convicted persons being acclaimed but take a trip out west to our friends in Belize for a most recent one.

    My point was summarily clearly made, however: 1) don’t over hype a simple populist reaction and 2) many pols have had great scandal and have found redemption. (A chapter and verse outta TnT or Jam or Guyana and notably Antigua can be done if u are truly that keen).

    And re his PM timbre … well ‘cuse me but I certainly was of that view that he had a fan base which touted him as a spoiler in DLP leadership sweepstakes.

    If you are saying to me that had he not be catspraddelled as he was that he would not have been in the DLP leadership mix then surely I am ill formed 🙏🏿😎.

    Peace.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    Then the context of your comment should reference politicians who were incarcerated. Focus!

  5. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Donald Trump, a stinking white racist, talking about justice. This the same guy who immediately assumed five Black teenagers, who became known as the ‘Central Park 5,’ were guilty of raping white woman, even before their trial began. I’m sure you remember his paid advertisements calling the return of the death penalty, to execute those youngsters. They were subsequently exonerated, and the despicable Trump refused to offer them an apology when asked if he would do so.

  6. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    I do try brother @David, to focus … 😎🤦…. so you do realize that the current leader of the Belize opposition Mr Barrow served almost 10 years in jail, right!

    Is that enough “focus” for you. Off the top of my head I can’t recall many others although there is a nagging thought that Basdeo Panday also was incarcerated at one point but that was likely only for some public activism or union matter … so that doesn’t count as a conviction, fah sure!

    Anyhow the brother in Belize was in jail for ‘serious’ matters even if he was just being a ‘stand up’ guy for his star-boy … so for all intents and purposes Inniss could very well do a ‘Barrow’!🤣🤦‍♂️

  7. John Avatar
    John

    MTG loon on April 7, 2023 at 1:50 PM said:
    Rate This

    To paraphrase the MTG loon some of the best leaders like Nelson Mandela and Jesus have been arrested like the Don

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    What is the difference between Donville and Nelson Mandela and Jesus?

    Donville was a Member of Parliament and not a leader.

    Nelson Mandela became a leader after he was imprisoned.

    They also made him a martyr just like they are making Trump!!.

    Jesus was always a leader, before he was imprisoned and tried and after he was executed.

    Donville is yet to become a leader. or a martyr and doesn’t rate in that company.

    BTW, both Hitler and Stalin were at one time imprisoned, before they were leaders.

    Both became leaders, among the worst in human history.

    Trump was one of the best leaders in history before he was arrested.

    Martyrdom is all that is left for him to achieve and the half wit Democrats are hell bent on making him one.

  8. John Avatar
    John

    MTG is pretty perceptive!!

    https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1643270948714426370

  9. David Avatar
    David

    Tasker loses appeal

    . . . but extradition case now heading to the Caribbean Court of Justice
    by HEATHER-LYNN EVANSON heatherlynevanson@nationnews.com
    FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT of the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Ltd (ICBL) Alex Tasker has lost his bid at the Court of Appeal to have his magistrates’ court-ordered extradition thrown out.
    However, the matter is far from over as his attorney, Senior Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, has indicated he will be taking the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
    Pilgrim has 14 days in which to do so and, in that time, the Court of Appeal has placed a stay on Tasker being surrendered into custody pending his extradition.
    It was on September 8, 2021, that Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes ordered Tasker, of Mayfair Terrace, Leadvale, Christ Church, extradited to the United States to face a trial for conspiracy to launder money and two counts of money laundering between August 2015 and April 2016.
    At the time, the Chief Magistrate had advised Tasker that under the law, his surrender could not take place until 15 days had passed. He also told him that under Section 19 of the Extradition Act, he could either appeal or file a writ of habeas corpus.
    Pilgrim, who represented the former ICBL executive in association with attorney Neville Reid, appealed.
    Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale and Senior State Counsel Oliver Thomas represented the United States’ government.
    Yesterday, Justice of Appeal Rajendra Narine, who read the decision, explained the court had considered three issues in the extradition appeal.
    “The issues that arose for our determination are as follows: Does an appeal lie from a committal from a magistrate in extradition proceedings under the Magistrates’ Court Act?
    “If no appeal lies under the Magistrates’ Court Act, was the application for leave to appeal the magistrate’s order brought within the time limited by Section 20 of the Extradition Act?
    “And if the application was filed outside of time, does this court have a discretionary power to enlarge the time?” he asked.
    The Justice of Appeal said the panel, which also comprised President of the Court Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham and Justice of Appeal Francis Belle, had considered counsel’s submissions.
    “We have come to the conclusion that Parliament must have intended that the usual consequences should flow from an order of committal for surrender made by a magistrate in committal proceedings. We find merit in Mr Seale’s submissions that no right of appeal of the magistrate’s order of committal for surrender lies in this court pursuant to Section 238 of the Magistrates’ Court Act,” he said.
    He said Section 20 of the Extradition Act did not confer a right of appeal.
    “What it expressly confers is a right to apply for leave to appeal. We consider this to be an important distinction. A right to appeal signifies an entitlement to challenge a decision by way of appeal to a higher court, while a right to apply for leave to appeal to a higher court does not confer an entitlement to appeal a decision,” Justice of Appeal Narine explained.
    “We conclude that no right of appeal is conferred by Section 20 of the Extradition Act which is superseded or replaced by Section 239 of the Magistrates’ Court Act.”
    He continued that in considering the second issue, the panel had concluded that even if they had accepted that September 24, 2021, was the operative date of filing, the appeal would still be out of time pursuant to the time that was specified in Section 20 of the Extradition Act.
    “In fact, what we observe is the documents bear the date of September 29, 2021, which would be outside the time prescribed,” he said.
    “We conclude the application for leave to appeal, which was filed on September 29, 2021, must be dismissed,” Justice of Appeal Narine said.
    Deputy DPP Seale then asked the court to order that Tasker be surrendered into custody pending extradition.
    “Ordinarily at the stage which the magistrate commits him to surrender, the fugitive would have been transported to prison to await surrender,” Seale said.
    “And that having been stayed because there was an appeal to this court, I’m wondering what is the procedure now. If he is supposed to be surrendered or if there is going to be a further appeal?”
    Pilgrim, in response, said: “We will want to take a certain course and we would want the court to stay certain proceedings.”
    The senior attorney said Tasker was on bail for more than a year and had complied with all his bail conditions.
    “We will want to seek leave to challenge this decision and we will want the order (for Tasker’s surrender) to be stayed,” Pilgrim submitted.
    “The order for committal by the presiding magistrate on September 8, 2021, is further stayed for 14 days pending the filing of an appeal to the CCJ by the appellant and the terms of the appellant’s bail continues until further ordered,” Sir Patterson then said.
    Tasker remains on $200 000 bail, his passport remains in the custody of the court and he will continue to report to the Glebe Police Station.

    Source: Nation

  10. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @David
    Your posting ‘news’ in the middle of a multipage thread, as a comment extension, only guarantees it gets lost?

    Of the 3, Tasker has the best chance of avoiding prosecution. He was not a decision maker.

  11. David Avatar
    David

    @NO

    Updating a relevant blog to satisfy search engine requests.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    Extradition case of Innes yet to begin
    by MARIA BRADSHAW mariabradshaw@nationnews.com

    WHILE THE EXTRADITION CASE against Alex Tasker seems to be nearing a conclusion, the one against co-accused Ingrid Innes is yet to get off the ground.
    For the past year the extradition proceedings against the former chief executive officer of the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Ltd (ICBL), which is being heard in Canada where she resides, has been repeatedly adjourned with no evidence being led as yet.
    Two weeks ago when the case came up in the Superior Court of Canada, it was once again adjourned until October.
    Court officials told the DAILY NATION that the matter was called on April 12 but an “adjournment application was granted due to Ms Innes’ health”.
    CT scan results
    The official added: “It came up again on April 21st in order to go over the results of her CT scan.”
    While the official could not disclose the status of that matter, he reported that the extradition hearing was now set for October 6, but the court will meet on August 16, in Practice Court, to further discuss the matter.
    Like Tasker, the Guyanese-born Innes who is also a Canadian citizen, is alleged by the American authorities to be part of an extravagant scheme to launder money through the United States, along with former Government minister Donville Inniss who recently returned to Barbados after serving just under two years in a US federal prison.
    Inniss, who was arrested on US soil back in 2018, was found guilty by a jury two years later of two counts of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
    The indictment against Innes, 66, and Tasker, 61, a former vice-president of ICBL, claims that as part of ICBL’s executive team, they agreed to pay bribes to Inniss who, in return, agreed to use his official position as Minister of Industry and Commerce to cause the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) to renew insurance contracts with ICBL, as part of a fraudulent scheme.
    The indictment charged that the money was funnelled through an American bank account in the name of a New York dental company
    disguised as “consulting” fees.
    The 2015 contract required the BIDC to pay a premium of approximately BDS$661 469.30 to ICBL and in return Innes and Tasker agreed to pay a bribe of about $16 536.73, the documents said.
    Last Thursday, Tasker, who was ordered extradited last year, lost his bid to have the Court of Appeal overturn the extradition.
    Matters to CCJ
    However, his attorney, Senior Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, has served notice that he will be taking the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
    Pilgrim has 14 days in which to do so and, in that time, the Court of Appeal has placed a stay on Tasker, who resides at Leadvale, Christ Church, being surrendered into custody pending his extradition.
    Pilgrim told the court: “We will want to seek leave to challenge this decision and we will want the order (for Tasker’s surrender) to be stayed.”
    The court then ruled that the order for committal by the presiding magistrate on September 8, 2021, is further stayed for 14 days pending the filing of an appeal to the CCJ by the appellant. The terms of the appellant’s bail continue until further ordered.
    Tasker remains on $200 000 bail, his passport remains in the custody of the court and he will continue to report to the Glebe Police Station.

    Source: Nation

  13. David Avatar
    David

    CCJ paves way for Alex Tasker to be extradited to the US

    Article by Emmanuel Joseph
    Published on
    July 31, 2023

    The Caribbean Court of Justice has cleared the way for former executive of the Insurance Corporation of Barbados (ICBL) Alex Tasker to be extradited to the United States to face money laundering and conspiracy to launder money charges.
    This country’s highest court of appeal today rejected Tasker’s application for special leave to challenge the September 2021 order of Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes that he be surrendered to the US authorities.
    The CCJ panel of justices ruled that Tasker’s application for special leave to appeal the magistrate’s court decision did not meet the necessary requirements and so it was dismissed.
    ( more details to come)

    Source: Barbados Today

  14. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    Clearly Tasker needs a ‘medical intervention’.

  15. David Avatar
    David

    Saw him recently and he seemed to be challenged for sure.

  16. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    Seems the lawyers finally got II to back off social media and clean her accounts.
    How many lavish restaurant meals with fine wine do you need to show to prove your medical infirmity?
    Anyway I’m sure if the DOJ cares, they can hire a tail.

  17. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Jack Warner

    https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/jack-extradition-case-on-hold/article_f0997a54-148e-11ee-a24c-bff7d49d7687.html

  18. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    What about Ingrid Innes ?

  19. David Avatar
    David

    @Hants

    Please send your question to Trudeau and advise.

  20. David Avatar
    David

    Former Insurance Executive Alex Tasker In Police Custody

    https://starcomnetwork.net/blog/2023/08/01/former-insurance-executive-alex-tasker-in-police-custody/

  21. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    Hants
    Read May 4 post
    Unable to be heard on medical grounds.
    She will get the requisite doctors letters indefinitely. Called the fine art of delay.
    But remember, in Canada, extradition requires Ministerial approval. With the new justice Minister, she has the best chance yet, of it being denied should she be found eligible for extradition.

  22. David Avatar
    David

    Innes ordered deported

    By Maria Bradshaw mariabradshaw@nationnews.com

    Ingrid Innes, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Ltd, (ICBL) has been ordered deported to the United States (US) to face money laundering charges.

    On October 18, the Superior Court of Canada granted the Government of the United States application for deportation which was filed more than a year ago.

    When contacted by this newspaper, court officials confirmed the matter stating: “The application for her committal was granted on October 18, 2023.”

    However, they informed that Innes could still appeal the order and this could be a lengthy process.

    During the deportation proceedings in Canada adjournments were granted due to Innes’ health and at one point the Superior Court also examined results of her CT Scan.

    Innes, 66, who was born in Guyana and is a citizen of Canada, resigned as managing director and chief executive officer of ICBL Barbados in 2017 and subsequently returned to Canada where she resides with her husband, Byron Innes.

    On January 31, 2019 the US Government charged her along with Alex Tasker, a former senior vice president of ICBL with laundering bribes to Barbados’ former Minister of Industry & Commerce, Donville Inniss, in exchange for his assistance in securing Government contracts for ICBL. The indictment claims that as part of ICBL’s executive team, they agreed to pay bribes to Inniss who, in return, agreed to use his official position as Minister of Industry and Commerce to cause the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) to renew insurance contracts with ICBL, as part of a fraudulent scheme.

    The indictment charged that the money was funnelled through an American bank account in the name of a New York dental company disguised as “consulting” fees.

    It further alleged that the 2015 contract required the BIDC to pay a premium of approximately BDS$661 469.30 to ICBL and in return Innes and Tasker agreed to pay a bribe of about $16 536.73.

    Inniss has already been found guilty of two money laundering offences and returned to Barbados earlier this year after serving just under two years incarceration in a federal prison.

    ICBL voluntarily disclosed to the US government the payments to Inniss and received a prosecution declination under the FCPA Corporate Enforcement Policy. ICBL also disgorged to the government $93 940.19 in illicit profits that it earned from the alleged scheme.

    Tasker, 61, who faced a deportation trial in Barbados, was also ordered deported to the US earlier this year but is awaiting an appeal judgement from the Caribbean Court of Justice.

    Meanwhile, Inniss continues to fight for the US Government to overturn his conviction.

    Even though he has lost his appeal, he filed a 2255 motion for trial judge, Kiyo Matsumoto, to vacate his conviction or order a new trial, citing ineffective legal representation.

    Only on Friday, court prosecutors wrote to Judge Matsumoto at the Eastern District Court of New York requesting an extension of time to respond to Inniss’ submissions.

    The trial attorney stated: “The government writes to confirm that on November 16, 2023, the government sent copies of the government’s motion for an extension of time to file a response to the defendant’s motion to vacate, see Dkt. No. 168, and the court’s order dated November 15, 2023, to Mr Inniss at his address in Barbados.”

    Source: Nation

  23. David Avatar
    David

    Tasker appeal adjourned

    Court awaiting new appointments

    THE APPEAL BROUGHT BY former Insurance Corporation of Barbados Ltd (ICBL) executive Alex Tasker was adjourned yesterday as the Court of Appeal awaits the appointment of a new Chief Justice and a new Justice of Appeal.

    “I would suggest that we adjourn because we are to have, hopefully, some indication of a new Chief Justice in short order. We are to have, hopefully, the appointment of another Justice of Appeal,” said Justice of Appeal Francis Belle “So, in the circumstances, I think the best thing to do would be to adjourn to a date at which time it will come before a panel.”

    Justice of Appeal Belle was speaking after apologising for the absence of Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham.

    His comments came after Senior Counsel Andrew Pilgrim had suggested it “might be useful to have a panel that was not affected” by the ruling of the last panel.

    Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale, SC, who is representing the United States’ government in association with Principal State Counsel Oliver Thomas, said they had no issue with the panel but were not prepared to re-argue the leave to appeal.

    Suggestion

    He suggested the court hear arguments on the substantive appeal.

    Justice of Appeal Belle then set June 26 as the next date of hearing.

    Tasker, of Mayfair Terrace, Leadvale, Christ Church, is fighting a September 8, 2021 court-ordered extradition to the US to face a trial for conspiracy to launder money and two counts of money laundering between August 2015 and April 2016.

    His attorneys Pilgrim, Douglas Mendes, SC, and Clay Hackett took the appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) after the Court of Appeal dismissed their application for leave to appeal to the CCJ and discharged interim orders staying the order for committal made by Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes, and restraining the State from embarking on any course of conduct which would result in Tasker’s surrender to United States authorities.

    Pilgrim then filed an urgent application to the regional court, claiming there was a miscarriage of justice and saying Tasker was not given a chance to be heard.

    The CCJ later reopened the matter and subsequently sent Tasker’s legal team back to the Court of Appeal.

    Source: Nation

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