The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions – National Prosecution Service (ODPP-NPS) of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has recognized the partnership of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), the media, and the public in the swift capture of Ronald Samuel on July 18, 2024. Samuel was convicted in absentia at the High Court on July 16, 2024, for several sexual offences, including rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, and indecent assault of a child, stemming from incidents in 2021. He was also the first person convicted under the Cybercrime Act No. 20 of 2016 for cyberbullying and harassment by electronic communication.
Senior Crown Counsel Richie Maitland led the prosecution, supported by Witness Care Officer PC Andrew Telesford, with the Sexual Offences Unit of the RSVGPF conducting the investigation. Justice Brian Cottle presided over the trial. The ODPP-NPS emphasized that strategic cooperation between law enforcement and the community is essential in combating serious crimes and highlighted the need for parents and guardians to monitor children’s online activities to protect them from predators. The public is urged to report any knowledge or suspicions of child predatory abuse to the Sexual Offences Unit at 453-4599, underscoring that justice requires a collective effort.