Courtroom Bacchanal — Part 1: The Boat, the Ganja and Mammy's Prayer Cloth!

THE BOAT, THE GANJA AND MAMMY'S PRAYER CLOTH!

Courtroom Bacchanal — Part 1 | A fictional Trinidad and Tobago legal story

It was 5:30 in the morning. The fishermen were bringing in their catch, the sea breeze was blowing, and everybody was minding their own business. Well, almost everybody.

When police approached a small fishing boat and discovered several suspicious packages, the peaceful morning took a very different turn.

“Officer, I come out here to catch fish!” one man protested. “Sir, we looking for fish too,” the officer replied. “But these packages not looking like kingfish.”

By 7:00 a.m., three men were in custody. By 7:15, the whole village knew. And by 7:30, the story had changed from three men and some packages to an international drug cartel operating from a fishing boat with one engine. Caribbean news travels faster than Wi-Fi!

ENTER MAMMY.

Miss Pearl arrived at the police station clutching her handbag, a bottle of water and her prayer cloth.

“Officer! Where my child? He never smoke in his life! He don't even like cigarette!”

“Madam, we're investigating a suspected drug offence.”

“DRUG OFFENCE? But he only went fishing!”

She turned to her husband. “George! Say something!” George, who had been staring silently at the floor, finally spoke. “I tell that boy since last week that boat bringing problems.”

“George, you could not tell me that BEFORE the police arrest him?!”

By now, the family was convinced the young man would be sentenced to twenty years before lunchtime. But that is not how the criminal justice system works.

THE FIRST BIG QUESTION: WHAT EXACTLY WAS FOUND?

Was it cannabis? How much? Who knew the packages were there? Who actually possessed or controlled them? Was there evidence of personal possession, possession for the purpose of trafficking, or something else?

Those questions matter. Simple possession and trafficking are not automatically the same offence. The amount may affect the applicable law and statutory presumptions, but the evidence and the specific offence charged must be examined.

Simply being on a boat does not mean every passenger must automatically be convicted. Questions of knowledge, possession, control, the facts of the case and any applicable statutory presumption can matter.

THEN CAME THE COURT APPEARANCE.

Miss Pearl put on her church shoes, ironed George's shirt and instructed the entire family to assemble outside the courthouse.

“Everybody come. We going court!”

Only to discover that the first appearance in this fictional case had been arranged by video link.

“VIRTUALLY? So I put on good clothes to watch my son on a computer?!”

George sighed. “Pearl, the court not responsible for your wardrobe.”

“George, you is NOT helping this situation!”

Whether a court appearance is conducted in person or by an authorised video link, it remains a judicial proceeding. The arrangements depend on the court, the type of matter and the court's directions.

The accused must understand the allegation and have the opportunity to address legal representation, bail and the next procedural steps. An initial appearance is not automatically a trial.

THE LESSON

An arrest is not a conviction. A charge is not a sentence. And attending court for the first time does not mean the evidence has already been proved.

Miss Pearl finally sat down. Then she whispered to counsel: “Just tell me one thing. He coming home today?”

And that, dear readers, is where our next legal lesson begins.

TO BE CONTINUED — PART 2: “JIPA? I Thought They Said J'Ouvert!”

LEGAL NOTE

In Trinidad and Tobago, the legal position for cannabis depends on quantity, other circumstances and the particular offence alleged under the Dangerous Drugs Act, Chap. 11:25, as amended. Serious indictable cases follow the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act (AJIPAA) process; summary offences generally follow the District Court route. Not every drug allegation proceeds under AJIPAA.

Court format is not uniform: from 1 September 2026 most Magistrates' Courts resumed in-person hearings, while Masters' Courts retained temporary hybrid arrangements. Always follow the court's directions.

Official reading: Legal Aid and Advisory Authority, The Decriminalization of Marijuana — https://laaa.org.tt/news-and-events/148-the-decriminalization-of-marijuana-the-dos-and-donts ; Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago, AJIPAA — https://www.ttlawcourts.org/media-releases-and-statments/proclamation-administration-justice-indictable-proceedings-act-2011 ; Judiciary notice on in-person hearings — https://www.ttlawcourts.org/media-releases-and-statments/media-release-judiciary-resume-person-hearings-most-magistrates-courts

All people and events in this story are fictional. General public legal education only, not legal advice about any individual case.

For more legal stories and education: https://www.grandelawchambers.org/