Judge to give Decision on Freedom for 2 Indigenous Sisters in Prison for more than 30 Years

Bail Decision to be made at 9:00 a.m., Monday, March 27 in Yorkton, Sask

Justice Layh of the Court of King's Bench in Yorkton, Saskatchewan will deliver his decision whether Odelia and Nerissa Quewezance, two Indigenous sisters who have been in prison for more than 30 years since Feb 25, 1993, should be released on bail while they wait for Minister Lametti’s decision in their case. 

 

In December, 2021, the sisters asked the Minister to review their convictions for 2^nd degree murder as miscarriages of justice. They are supported by Innocence Canada and many Indigenous activists’ groups and supporters across Canada. 

 

In June, 2022, the Minister advised that he believed there may have been a miscarriage of justice in their case. 

 

In the summer of 2022, Odelia and Nerissa filed an application in the King’s Bench Court for their release on bail pending the Minister’s decision. The application was heard by Justice Layh in November 2022, and again in January, 2023. 

 

On Monday, Justice Layh will deliver his decision in open court in Yorkton. Odelia and Nerissa will both be there, along with their families and supporters. 

 

Media can attend the court in person to hear Justice Layh’s decision.

 

 

 Face of the Festival (and a body too!) wanted for 2023

 

Just as this week’s Caribbean Camera was going to press, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival sent out a call for this year’s Face of the Festival.  The carnival is looking for a Brand Ambassador to represent the Toronto Caribbean Carnival this summer.

 

“Are you the next Face of the Festival?” asked festival organizers in the first issue of their new Carnival Insider newsletter. “If you think you have the passion, energy, and rhythm to represent what the Toronto Caribbean Carnival is all about, we need you! Register for a chance to become the 2023 Face of the Festival.”

  

“If you believe carnival is LIFE and believe there is no greater joy than jamming down de road with your section, then we are looking for you. Your duties will include event appearances, event hosting, appearing in social media content, and promoting Toronto Carnival to the world!” reads the newsletter article.

 

In advertising for the next Face of the Festival the TCC is using a picture of a beautiful female in Mas costume (pictured left in Caribbean Camera clipping of this article). It implies that only women should apply. Last year the carnival had both a male and a female model in the role.

 

 I used an the Dali-E AI programme to create the copyright free drawing of a reveller at the top of this page. Article by Stephen Weir