In a landmark case highlighting digital accountability, Akeem Durant of Christ Church has been mandated to perform 80 hours of community service following his guilty plea for transmitting threatening electronic communications. The 27-year-old appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna at Oistins Magistrates’ Court, where the sentence was formally delivered for causing significant distress to Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams through menacing digital content.
Outside the courtroom, Durant expressed profound remorse while speaking with reporters, issuing a public warning about digital conduct. ‘Exercise extreme caution with your online posts, including private platforms like WhatsApp, as content can easily fall into unintended hands,’ he cautioned, acknowledging his failure to anticipate the serious repercussions of his actions.
Attorney General Abrahams, present during the proceedings, subsequently revealed his personal intervention in the case. Having practiced law for over three decades, Abrahams emphasized his disinterest in criminalizing youthful indiscretion, particularly after Durant offered a sincere apology during a private meeting at his office. The Attorney General personally advocated for rehabilitative justice, recommending community service and requesting that upon successful completion, no permanent conviction would mar Durant’s record.
Abrahams further reflected on the broader implications, expressing relief that the viral content didn’t influence electoral processes while urging Barbadians to recognize the profound consequences of irresponsible social media engagement. The case establishes a significant precedent for balancing legal accountability with restorative justice in Barbados’ evolving digital landscape.