The following is the text of a radio and tv broadcast delivered by Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, on Wednesday June 27.
Fellow Anguillians, I would first like to thank the Lord our God for giving me the opportunity to address you today. I come to update you on a matter which I am duty bound to not simply report to you on, BUT to inform you about the facts surrounding it.
As some of you may be aware, on 18th January 2010 a search was conducted on my Chambers as well as the Chambers of Ms Navine Fleming by certain members of the Royal Anguilla Police Force. This search took place three days before Nomination Day, a day on which I had intended, and in fact did, announce my candidacy for the Anguilla United Front for District #2.
Because of the underhanded nature of the search, Ms. Fleming and I filed a case in the High Court against the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Police, and Inspector Andrew Arsenault in his capacity of Detective Inspector of the Royal Anguilla Police Force. This filing was first done on 12th February, 2010. Our claim against them was that the search conducted on our offices was illegal and unconstitutional. Ms. Fleming and my matter moved forward in the High Court and by July 2010 we were almost ready for trial.
On 11th August 2010, the Royal Anguilla Police Force charged Ms. Fleming and I in relation to Invoices which we had LEGALLY filed in the High Court for payment in relation to a client who we had in common. Let me make it abundantly clear that the High Court Judge, Justice Mario Michel, had already reviewed our legal fees and approved payment for those legal fees. You can only imagine our state of confusion when we were being charged by the police concerning those same fees. And again I will emphasize – fees that were legally reviewed and approved by the High Court.
However, once we were charged, the Government of Anguilla immediately applied to the High Court to stop our case against it, claiming that the criminal charges should be dealt with first. The High Court agreed.
It is important for me to tell you, fellow Anguillians, that Ms. Fleming and I did not appeal the High Court Judge’s decision, nor did we take any other action to stop the criminal charges from moving forward, simply because we were of the view that the Government of Anguilla had NO case against us! We were therefore prepared to have the criminal charges move forward.
The charges had to be dealt with in the Magistrate’s Court in a hearing called a Preliminary Inquiry. The Preliminary Inquiry officially started on 7th September 2011. The Government of Anguilla opted to bring in a Prosecutor from overseas to try the case against us, one Mr. Evan Welch fromTrinidad. It is important for you to know that Ms. Fleming and I came to Court for the Preliminary Inquiry on numerous occasions between August 2010 and June 2012, over a two year period. And you must also know that each time the matter was called, we turned up; and each time that it was adjourned, it was always at the request of the prosecution, NOT our side! In fact, our lawyers were always present and ready to go.
There were four witnesses for the Prosecution and when the matter was put off yet again on Wednesday, 28th March 2012, three of the witnesses had already given evidence and there was one more witness to go. It may be useful for you to know, fellow Anguillians, that the Preliminary Enquiry is where the government presents its case. The government’s own witnesses give evidence. The persons charged, such as Ms Fleming and I need not speak or give any evidence whatsoever.
After the third witness for the government gave evidence on 28th March 2012, the case was put off again until 25th June 2012, at which time the last witness for the Government of Anguilla was to give evidence. All this time, we were ready to go to court. We waited patiently and remained in good faith.
It was therefore a big surprise to Ms Fleming and me when we both received letters from the Honourable Attorney General Mr. James Wood on Thursday, 21st June 2012 stating the following:
Dear Mrs. Richardson Hodge,
There are currently several charges before the Magistrate’s Court that relate to an alleged dishonest application for legal fees. This application led to an order being made by Justice Mario Michel (Ag) on 20th March 2009.
Please be advised that after the last hearing date I finally had the opportunity to consider carefully all the available evidence in relation to these charges. I take the view in this matter, as with all others, that the prosecution is under a duty to ensure that at each stage of proceedings, there is both sufficient evidence to proceed and that the prosecution is in the public interest.
Having completed my assessment of the available evidence, I can indicate that I am not satisfied that the prosecution of these matters should continue. As a result, on 25th June 2012 I shall be offering no further evidence and ask that the charges be dismissed, pursuant to section 58 of the Magistrate’s Code of Procedure Act.”
Now fellow Anguillians, in reading that letter, a couple of things become absolutely clear. One, that the charges were about our invoices which the High Court Judge had already approved. And two, that the Government of Anguilla was in the middle of putting on its case with its own witnesses when this decision was made to have the charges dismissed.
Fellow Anguillians, the information that the Government of Anguilla had when it asked for the charges to be dismissed is the exact same information that it had when it searched our offices in January 2010. BUT interestingly, seven months later, we were charged. This begs the question: What was the reason for the Government of Anguilla waiting for seven long months after searching our offices? We do not know, but what we do know is that at the same time we were charged, Ms Fleming and my matter in the High Court was well on its way to trial. It is my belief that the reason why we were charged in August 2010 was to stop Ms. Fleming and my court case from moving forward.
Now, two years later, the Attorney General has now decided to stop the court case against us, without any request from Ms Fleming or myself.
Fellow Anguillians, I have spent some time explaining exactly what occurred so that you can understand exactly what has taken place in this matter. At a meeting at Squawk’s Hideout during the 2010 election campaign, I used the platform to explain what had happened in relation to the search of my offices. At that time, I told you that I had done NO wrong! Now, the very fact that the Government of Anguilla has dismissed its OWN case against Ms Fleming and myself is more than testimony to the fact that they had ABSOLUTELY NO case against us! It is now clear that I am vindicated.
It cannot be forgotten, fellow Anguillians, that in January 2010, I was just THREE days away from being nominated as a candidate for the 2010 elections. However, in the face of wild rumors, distortions of the truth and character assassination, I pressed on knowing that I was innocent and that the truth would someday come to light. It is my firm belief and that of many other Anguillans both at home and abroad that the complaint that was made to certain members of the Royal Anguilla Police Force about Ms Fleming and I about our legal fees was a malicious and evil design to stain my character. It is and remains widespread belief that this complaint was made specifically to stop me from running in the 2010 elections, or at the very least to be used against me to ensure that I was not successful in my bid as representative for District #2. I take pride in noting that before this complaint was made to the Royal Anguilla Police Force, there WAS NEVER ANY complaint made by anyone in relation to me, my Firm or my representation of clients. Who made this complaint to the Police? It was not the client, so who would have had any knowledge as to Ms Fleming and my fees so as to make a complaint with the Royal Anguilla Police Force? Well, I can tell you, that I will certainly be looking for answers to this question.
Fellow Anguillians, it is indeed a sad day when one could seek to damage a person’s name, a person’s reputation, for the sake of political gain. It is an evil thing to do, and I would not wish it on any other Anguillian, or indeed any person at all. My biggest concern is that what has happened to Ms Fleming and I can happen to anyone without justification. Someone has an issue with you, that person makes a report against you and before you know it you are charged and dragged before a court for two years before the Government of Anguilla decides that it has no case against you. This is wrong and it should never again happen to any other person.
But I can tell you, fellow Anguillians, that I will not allow other people to intimidate me. My reason for entering the political arena was not for personal gain, but to give back toAnguilla, to my country, the country of my parents.Anguillahas given much to me and I can do no less than to give back in any way possible. I am strong, I have gotten stronger, and I will NOT be deterred. I have fought, and I will continue to fight the good fight, for you, for our children, for Anguilla, for myself!
In closing, I would like to thank my husband and my entire family, my friends, supporters and well wishers in District 2 and all those persons who believed in me and stood up for me in the face of adversity and criticism. I thank my fellow candidates of the Anguilla United Front Party, the party executive and party members and supporters for their continued support from the very beginning of this entire matter. I thank all of you sincerely, because it is through the strength and grace given to me by Almighty God along with your unwavering support and encouragement that I was able and will continue to press on.
God Bless you and God Bless Anguilla.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
