VZCZCXYZ0013
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 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶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. 
 
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LONG LEGAL BATTLE 
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¶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. 
 
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THREATS AGAINST HER CHILDREN 
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¶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. 
 
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OSTRACIZED FROM THE LEGAL ESTABLISHMENT 
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¶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