By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Thursday, July 24 2008

“Bandits are not born big my friend,” declared defence attorney Ainsley Lucky, when he quoted a verse yesterday, from the popular song by veteran calypsonian, Hollis “Chalkdust” Liverpool. Lucky was at the time making his plea for bail for his teenaged client.

The 16-year-old La Romaine resident appeared before magistrate Melvin Daniel, in the San Fernando Second Magistrate’s Court, and had pleaded not guilty to having 0.3 grammes of cocaine.

The teen was arrested by PC Antonio Ramadhin of the San Fernando CID on Monday near his home.

Attorney Lucky asked that his client not be remanded in custody at the Youth Training Centre (YTC), but instead be sent home to his parents.

Lucky then quoted a verse of the Chalkdust’s 2007 song entitled “The Bandit Factory.” He declared, “Bandits are not born big, my friend. It is false values they get as children. And many people here, just so making bandits, and they do not know.” Lucky told magistrate Daniel, that if his client goes up (to YTC) another bandit would be hatched.

Police prosecutor, Sgt Shereen Theodore-Persad, objected to bail on the basis that the teenager had previous and pending matters.

She added that she was not sure how well his parents could handle him.

After listening to the bail application, magistrate Daniel told Lucky that he will need time to think about it.

The matter was postponed to today and the accused was remanded to the YTC.