UPDATE: ‘We have not peddled back, we have legal avenues ’-DPP
In fact, she posted on the DPP Official Facebook page yesterday, May 31, 2025, “We have not peddled back. Please folks stop being misled by incompetent and incorrect statements. There are several avenues legally available for dealing with such erroneous decisions.”
What is going on in the case?
She was referring to reports in the local press that she had backed down and withdrawn the appeal. However, speaking to two Attorneys familiar with the matter, they confirmed that Mrs Scatliffe-Esprit is correct, as there is no backpedalling and has moved to new legal opinions.
They noted that while Mr Walwyn and Ms Stevens were successful in challenging the Crown’s case at the preliminary stage, where Senior Magistrate Tamia N. Richards ruled that they had ‘no case to answer’, the matter is not over as the DPP continues to push.
Following this, the DPP immediately filed a notice to appeal in the Court of Appeal. This resulted in Walwyn and Stevens’ Attorneys filing a legal brief to strike out her appeal citing that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to hear an appeal in the preliminary stages of the process. In other words, the DPP took the wrong step in filing an appeal, according to the two attorneys speaking to our newsroom on condition of anonymity.
DPP withdrew the Appeal after it was misfiled
After some weeks, DPP Scatliffe-Esprit on Friday, May 30, 2025, withdrew her notice to appeal, knowing that she had misstepped, hence the public misinformation. However, it’s not over. She filed a few weeks ago with a high court Judge asking for a Judicial Review (JR) of what she described as the “erroneous decisions” of Senior Magistrate Richards.
While many legal experts noted that a JR is not an appeal, it could lead to the squashing of Magistrate Richards’ decision on the ‘no case to answer’. So in terms of accuracy of facts, the matter over the High School Wall prosecution is before a High Court Judge awaiting the outcome of the JR.
It is our understanding that Attorney for Walwyn and Stevens, Mr Terence F. Williams of Chase Law, has also filed papers to strike out the JR, citing a number of reasons. As of publication time, we were unable to reach Mr Williams.
Has the ODPP been weaponised against the people?
While both the Defence and the Prosecution have a right to use all legal options necessary to win their case, many residents are still asking on social media if this is an abuse of legal power and whether the Office of the DPP is being used or is being weaponised against residents.
See previous story published on May 31, 2025
UK Witch-Hunt closed for 2 residents, Walwyn & Stevens appeal withdrawn!
-UK Police Officers whistling blow
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- It was a turn of events for Leader of the Opposition Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) and Assistant Secretary Lorna Stevens over their arrest, charges and prosecution in the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) wall drama.
Many residents, the media, the international community, civil society and legal observers have concluded that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was a witch-hunt with a target list resulting in the abuse of the legal system, however, at least two residents are now free.
No more appeal- DPP
It was yesterday, May 30, 2025, that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Tiffany R. Scatliffe-Esprit, withdrew her appeal after losing the case against Mr Walwyn and Ms Stevens in a lower court over the high school wall.
It was on January 21, 2025, that Senior Magistrate Tamia N. Richards ruled that both Walwyn and Stevens had ‘No Case To Answer’ over the Breach of Trust Case in the high school wall brought against them in 2022.
However, with alleged pressure from United Kingdom (UK) Police Officers and elements in the Governor’s Office, on January 23, 2025, DPP Scatliffe-Esprit appealed the Senior Magistrate’s decision of ‘No Case To Answer’ for both defendants.
What about Kelvin E. Thomas?
Now the matter is closed as the DPP did a backpedal and withdrew her appeal, there are now questions being asked as to why she is continuing with the case against Kelvin E. Thomas over the same high school wall. Residents are vocal on social media, inquiring whether this is another example of blatant abuse of the legal system concerning the witch-hunt.
A former Governor imposed a CoI on residents of the Virgin Islands in January 2021, and it found no corruption, but the CoI mandate left out areas under the Governor’s portfolio, including the legal system and the police.
Many have alleged that, following the CoI report, there is an ongoing witch-hunt orchestrated in collaboration with a former Police Commissioner and Governors.
This campaign targets residents, including elected officials, police officers, media personalities, talk show hosts, and private sector members, subjecting them to arrests without evidence and bogus charges against those who have spoken out against double standards, injustices, and in support of independence.
UK Police Officers whistling blow
Recently, some UK police officers have engaged in whistle-blowing, informing both elected officials and residents that many of these arrests and charges are indeed a witch-hunt, a waste of taxpayers' dollars and an attempt to damage residents’ good names in the Territory.
When this is all over, many residents affected by the UK CoI witch-hunt are expected to bring a class-action lawsuit against the Virgin Islands Government for damage to reputations, among other things; however, the UK governors, police officers and members of the CoI have been given immunity from prosecution or being sued.
It means local taxpayers will be stuck with the huge CoI bill for lawsuits after already racking up over seven million in CoI fees.
Mr Walwyn is represented by high-profile Attorney Terrence F. Williams of Chase Law.
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37 Responses to “UPDATE: ‘We have not peddled back, we have legal avenues ’-DPP ”
In Road Town’s courts where justice should preside,
A pattern forms, too glaring to abide.
The DPP, with fervent zeal unshaken,
Pursues the lost, while justice lies forsaken.
The High School Wall: a case built on the sand,
Against Walwyn and Stevens took a stand.
“No case to answer,” ruled the magistrate,
Yet appeals ensued, a costly, futile state.
McMillan-Lans, accused with weight,
Of trafficking, a charge of grave estate.
Yet evidence fell short, the case dismissed,
Another notch where justice went amiss.
Matt Daly’s death, a somber tale,
Four men accused, but prosecution failed.
“No case to answer,” said the court once more,
Leaving questions, wounds, and open sores.
Nickera Smith, her life cut tragically,
The accused walked free, no culpability.
The Crown’s weak case could not the truth unveil,
A victim’s voice lost in the justice scale.
These aren’t mere tales of courtroom defeat,
But echoes of a system in retreat.
Where public trust erodes with each misfire,
And legal pursuits seem mired in quagmire.
The DPP, entrusted to uphold,
Must wield the law with wisdom, firm and bold.
Yet, chasing shadows, missing marks so wide,
Leaves justice wanting, and the people snide.
In every loss, a lesson to be learned,
That justice isn’t just about the earned.
It’s serving truth, with evidence in hand,
Not castles built upon the shifting sand.
We need to change the DPP to stop these nonsensical prosecutions and to ensure that proper prosecutions are successful.
If she's not competent enough to go to court to argue matters herself, she should do the honourable thing and demit office.
I thought I read a couple years ago where the 'DPP' was online commenting that no one can tell her who to prosecute or not prosecute. I got to find that news article, but I don't think my memory is faulty.
https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/no-one-can-tell-me-who-to-prosecute-tiffany-r-scatliffe-esprit
“She further stated that “no person or authority can tell the DPP who to prosecute, what to prosecute, or what to discontinue; the decision of the DPP in whether a matter is prosecuted and how it is prosecuted is final and not subject to review or appeal.”
“We have not peddled back. Please folks stop being mislead by incompetent and incorrect statements. There are several avenues legally available for dealing with with such erroneous decisions. These incorrect stories do not make the ODPP look bad. It makes the Territory look bad.“
Government, please get someone to be responsible for writing posts on the Office of the DPP’s Facebook page. It is atrocious. Where are the paragraphs and proper punctuation?
Do better and stop the tantrums.
The woman in the bible did do wrong. She was guilty as charged, but was fogiven by Jesus. But does a win in the court of law proves ones inosence? No, It doesn't. However, what is done is done or is it?
Your poem clearly describes therehat does encapsulated BIG picture of what is going on
From jurors being anti police and related to half the island or good friends to half the criminals to dpp losing every high profile case
1. The esteemed DPP went down the wrong avenue and filed an appeal when she had no legal grounds to do so.
2. The teacher, Master Willy pointed out her misstep.
3. The esteemed DPP gets a chance to correct her mistake. She then makes an arrogant and unnecessary Facebook post referencing the word “incompetent”
4. Meanwhile the teacher, Master Willy could not be reached “as of publication time” – a euphemism for “Master Willy ain’t talking”.
Learning Points
Incompetence shouts, Wisdom listens.
Confidence without competence is ignorance.
Arrogance can make incompetence even worse, because it shuts the door to learning and self-improvement.