Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRIDGETOWN641
2008-10-24 16:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:
ST. VINCENT NOMINATION FOR 2009 INTERNATIONAL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0013 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHWN #0641/01 2981644 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 241644Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6839
UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000641
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/IWI AND WHA/CAR FROM AMBASSADOR OURISMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM XL
SUBJECT: ST. VINCENT NOMINATION FOR 2009 INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD
REF: SECSTATE 99729
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000641
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/IWI AND WHA/CAR FROM AMBASSADOR OURISMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM XL
SUBJECT: ST. VINCENT NOMINATION FOR 2009 INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD
REF: SECSTATE 99729
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) I am pleased to nominate Nicole O.M. Sylvester, lawyer
and human rights activist from St. Vincent, for the
Secretary's Award for International Women of Courage for 2009
(biodata at end of cable). Nicole is an accomplished lawyer
and president of the St. Vincent Human Rights Association.
In both capacities, she recently represented a local woman
who made rape accusations against the Prime Minister of St.
Vincent. During the 10-month legal battle against the
government establishment that ensued, Ms. Sylvester found
herself and her children in potential danger of government
reprisal. Nicole Sylvester is a brave and courageous woman
who fought for the rights of the alleged victim against a
well entrenched government establishment. Her efforts may
have been ultimately unsuccessful, but everyone in St.
Vincent knows Nicole Sylvester will do everything her power
to hold all accountable to the law, up to and including the
Prime Minister.
--------------
LONG LEGAL BATTLE
--------------
2. (U) This case was an up hill legal battle from the
beginning. Nicole Sylvester, on behalf of the alleged
victim, filed criminal charges against Prime Minister
Gonsalves in late January 2008. The charges were
discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions, a long
time friend of the Prime Minister. The discontinuation was
challenged in the St. Vincent High Court and the Eastern
Caribbean Court of Appeals; however both challenges were
defeated in June, 2008. Simultaneously, Ms. Sylvester filed
documents in the family court system in an effort to continue
the case, which dragged on for months. Eventually, the
alleged victim dismissed Sylvester and other human rights
lawyers and took on allies of the Prime Minister as legal
counsel, and then left the country for fully-funded study in
Canada.
--------------
THREATS AGAINST HER CHILDREN
--------------
3. (U) Throughout the 10-month ordeal, Nicole reported
government threats and intimidation against herself and her
two sons, ages 7 and 8. Within a week of taking the case,
she was under government surveillance. On several occasions
individuals with ties to the government and police confronted
Nicole stating "You have two small children, and anything is
possible while you are away," insinuating something could
happen to her children while she traveled off St. Vincent.
Fearing for the safety of her children, Nicole enlisted the
help of trusted family members and friends to transport her
children to and from school, never leaving them alone in
public. Nicole noticed government vehicles following her
constantly. Her life became relegated to traveling back and
forth to work and worrying about the security of her
children.
--------------
OSTRACIZED FROM THE LEGAL ESTABLISHMENT
--------------
4. (U) Since the dismissal of the case, Nicole finds it
increasingly difficult to accomplish day-to-day legal
business. Ostracizing her from the legal establishment, the
Attorney General and other court officials rarely return her
phone calls or inquiries or take action on her legal matters,
making it difficult to make a living. When asked if she
would take the case again, though, Nicole commented
"Absolutely. (The accuser) needed help, and I was her last
resort for hope. If I said no, then all fails. People will
have no faith in the rule of law and take the law into their
own hands."
5. (U) BIODATA
Name: Nicole Othlyn Michelle Sylvester
Job title/ association: Lawyer and Human Rights Activist
Date of Birth: 13 Feb 1964
Country of Birth: Trinidad and Tobago
Citizenship: St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and
Tobago
Address: P.O. Box Greenville St., Kingstown, St. Vincent and
the Grenadines
Telephone: (784)-495-4134
Email: lawyers@svglawyers.com
Passport Number: R0052309
Nicole Sylvester has been contacted about this nomination and
is willing to be recognized.
OURISMAN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/IWI AND WHA/CAR FROM AMBASSADOR OURISMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM XL
SUBJECT: ST. VINCENT NOMINATION FOR 2009 INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD
REF: SECSTATE 99729
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) I am pleased to nominate Nicole O.M. Sylvester, lawyer
and human rights activist from St. Vincent, for the
Secretary's Award for International Women of Courage for 2009
(biodata at end of cable). Nicole is an accomplished lawyer
and president of the St. Vincent Human Rights Association.
In both capacities, she recently represented a local woman
who made rape accusations against the Prime Minister of St.
Vincent. During the 10-month legal battle against the
government establishment that ensued, Ms. Sylvester found
herself and her children in potential danger of government
reprisal. Nicole Sylvester is a brave and courageous woman
who fought for the rights of the alleged victim against a
well entrenched government establishment. Her efforts may
have been ultimately unsuccessful, but everyone in St.
Vincent knows Nicole Sylvester will do everything her power
to hold all accountable to the law, up to and including the
Prime Minister.
--------------
LONG LEGAL BATTLE
--------------
2. (U) This case was an up hill legal battle from the
beginning. Nicole Sylvester, on behalf of the alleged
victim, filed criminal charges against Prime Minister
Gonsalves in late January 2008. The charges were
discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions, a long
time friend of the Prime Minister. The discontinuation was
challenged in the St. Vincent High Court and the Eastern
Caribbean Court of Appeals; however both challenges were
defeated in June, 2008. Simultaneously, Ms. Sylvester filed
documents in the family court system in an effort to continue
the case, which dragged on for months. Eventually, the
alleged victim dismissed Sylvester and other human rights
lawyers and took on allies of the Prime Minister as legal
counsel, and then left the country for fully-funded study in
Canada.
--------------
THREATS AGAINST HER CHILDREN
--------------
3. (U) Throughout the 10-month ordeal, Nicole reported
government threats and intimidation against herself and her
two sons, ages 7 and 8. Within a week of taking the case,
she was under government surveillance. On several occasions
individuals with ties to the government and police confronted
Nicole stating "You have two small children, and anything is
possible while you are away," insinuating something could
happen to her children while she traveled off St. Vincent.
Fearing for the safety of her children, Nicole enlisted the
help of trusted family members and friends to transport her
children to and from school, never leaving them alone in
public. Nicole noticed government vehicles following her
constantly. Her life became relegated to traveling back and
forth to work and worrying about the security of her
children.
--------------
OSTRACIZED FROM THE LEGAL ESTABLISHMENT
--------------
4. (U) Since the dismissal of the case, Nicole finds it
increasingly difficult to accomplish day-to-day legal
business. Ostracizing her from the legal establishment, the
Attorney General and other court officials rarely return her
phone calls or inquiries or take action on her legal matters,
making it difficult to make a living. When asked if she
would take the case again, though, Nicole commented
"Absolutely. (The accuser) needed help, and I was her last
resort for hope. If I said no, then all fails. People will
have no faith in the rule of law and take the law into their
own hands."
5. (U) BIODATA
Name: Nicole Othlyn Michelle Sylvester
Job title/ association: Lawyer and Human Rights Activist
Date of Birth: 13 Feb 1964
Country of Birth: Trinidad and Tobago
Citizenship: St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and
Tobago
Address: P.O. Box Greenville St., Kingstown, St. Vincent and
the Grenadines
Telephone: (784)-495-4134
Email: lawyers@svglawyers.com
Passport Number: R0052309
Nicole Sylvester has been contacted about this nomination and
is willing to be recognized.
OURISMAN