The Mail on Sunday ...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/01/11/toronto-bartholomew-grenada.html
Family lawyer Derick Sylvester says he expects the government will accept civil liability for the death of Oscar Bartholomew.
He says he will be "shocked" if government does not do so and the family will then launch a lawsuit.
Five police officers are charged with manslaughter after 39-year-old Oscar Bartholomew, on a visit to Grenada last month, died in police custody.
Sylvester says there is "absolutely no doubt" police beat the "bound and gagged" father of three to death.
The accused officers, who face 15 years in prison if convicted, have yet to enter a plea and none of the allegations have been tested in court.
This local commentator may be bootstrapping a bit, but he notes an interesting phenomenon:
http://www.spiceislander.com/?p=6131
Mr. Bartholomew’s death is the straw that has broken the camel’s back. And the root cause, in my opinion, is a serious problem which permeates our society. With all the information at our disposal, we need to try to determine why returning nationals seem to be somewhat scorned and treated as second class tourists. We also need to determine why there seems to be a disparity in the treatment of returning nationals from North America in particular. We need to determine what may have added fuel to the existing fire of ignorance. And probably, more importantly, we must educate our people of the true value that expatriates bring to a needy economy.
... Our Sons and Daughters abroad are truly our All-Season tourists and without their contribution our local economy would be greatly affected and our quality of life significantly compromised. This hopefully is a wake up call to stop the foolishness and put our house in order. Why the hostility? Why are we so angry? What has happened to the kind, gracious, hospitable Grenadians of yesteryear?
http://www.bonnyvillenouvelle.ca/article/GB/20120110/CP02/301109833/-1/bnv/grenadas-pm-fends-off-calls-for-inquiry-into-alleged-police-abuses&template=BNVcpart
CROCHU, Grenada - While he says Grenada will not tolerate any human rights abuses, the prime minister of the tiny Caribbean island is refusing to order a full-scale inquiry into allegations of systemic police misconduct.
The death of Oscar Bartholomew, a visitor from Toronto who prosecutors say was beaten to death by police on Boxing Day, has sparked calls for an independent probe.
... Thomas rejected the idea that police brutality, as many on the island allege, is widespread.
... Anslem Clouden, who represents one of the accused officers, said Tuesday he would recommend an independent inquiry into the Royal Grenada Police Force when he meets with Thomas on Friday.
The lawyer, who practised for years in Nova Scotia, said there are real and long-standing problems with abuses that need addressing, perhaps with external assistance.
Unfortunately, since the death of a Canadian would be a triggering event, Canada's police expertise would not likely be included in the external assistance, I imagine. Not that Canada doesn't have policing problems of our own, but when it comes to helping to organize police services and providing police training that includes human rights training, we do have internationally recognized expertise and frequently play that role in reconstruction situations (post-civil wars, e.g.)
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