BABYLON SYSTEM ... ‘Rastafarian diplomat’ refuses to attend court

A Corporate Area judge has issued an arrest warrant for a man who was charged with participating in an illegal protest led by the United Independents' Congress (UIC) last September.

This after the man sent word to the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court that he will not be answering to the charges. David Thompson, through his co-accused Abbey Gayle Thompson, told Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague that he is a Rastafarian and will not return to court. They are charged with UIC President Joseph Patterson with breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act.

"I reached out to him and he said he has an identification card that states that he is a Rastafarian diplomat and he said that he won't be returning [to court]," Abbey Gayle shared with the court. When asked by the judge where Thompson is located, she told the court she was not aware of his whereabouts.

"I'm going to order a warrant for his arrest now," the judge responded. This is the second court appearance that Thompson has missed, even though his bail was extended. On the last mention date last December, Abbey Gayle informed the court that Thompson was sick and would not be attending court.

Patterson, Abbey Gayle Thompson and Kevaugh Harris are charged with taking part in a public march without a permit, not wearing a mask, organising a public march without permit, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, failure to disperse march and being part of a gathering of more than 10 persons.

Patterson is also charged for breaching the Public Order Act after he allegedly spearheaded the protest against the Government's COVID-19 vaccination programme in downtown Kingston.

The accused are to return to court July 14.