Mark Sewell was brought to Magistrate's Court this morning to begin the process of extradition as requested by the United States Justice Department. On November 10th of 2006 a warrant was issued for the arrest of Sewell (Seawell) and on 15th of February he was detained. Today as part of pre-requirements for the extradition, Solicitor General Edwin Flowers tendered evidence that was presented to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the U.S. State Department. It was a voluminous compilation of documentation which requests the extradition of brothers Mark, Dwayne and Gary Sewell.
Today however the matter of Mark's extradition was the only issue. As the case was being heard inside outside a group of about 40 supporters of Sewell made their discontent with the process heard.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
This morning the son of Mark Sewell was out at Magistrate's Court he carried a placard asking for the return of his father. He along with others all supporters and dependents of Sewell carried provocative signs and even religious ones all in the hope of halting the process of extradition.
Protestor #1,
"We got one man right here, Mr. Mark Sewell and this man looks out for a lot of men out here. He creates jobs out here for people. What do they expect us to do now when bread is out of our mouths and our children are starving? They have to let go this man because they don't have anything on this man. They are just trying to bamboozle this man and take him. It doesn't make sense. They are our brothers, look at Hertular, look at how they tried to take Papa Brown - they are taking everybody who are looking for us out here so we have to come and make a stand and know what is going on."
Protestor #2,
"We hope they see us because we know the Ministers are watching on TV and the Opposition Leader and all of them are watching on TV and definitely they must could see how we feel and how we live out here. A lot of men don't have anything to eat."
Protestor #3,
"My bwoy helps out everybody who you see out here, my boy has some bus and thing which we drive. No drugs are made in Belize big man. You see what these men have, million and add dollars. They are taking all the money away. We don't have any money here. They are taking millions, Mr. Cal and them, and they aren't really interested to try and interrogate them. But they are interrogating my bwoy who is trying to help out. Only black men are out here you know. It is only black men, we are ghetto man. My bwoy helps us out. We work at village and he gives us honest pay, we sign pay sheet, so they are taking bread out of people's mouths."
And while these protestors want the release of Sewell, they question the selectivity of the process.
Protestor #2,
"Max is there to go, Eamon is there to go, Ralph is there to go, Cal is there to go, and the whole Cabinet has to go too so tell Max and all of them to explain to me which part of the game is for me. Tell them I want to know that my brother."
And while all the fuss was taking place, inside, the case which was presented by Solicitor General Edwin Flowers was adjourned until the 3rd of March. After that Sewell was secreted out of the Supreme Court leaving those outside wishing they could have gotten a glimpse of their patron.
In court attorney for Mark Sewell Richard 'Dickie' Bradley made it clear that his client would not wave his right to an extradition hearing and would by no means agree to be taken to the U.S. to face charges on his free will. On government's behalf Flowers said that government will go through with the entire process of extradition.
