Non-nationals are welcomed to these shores, but they must enter legally.
Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett made this clear during a sitting of the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
“You have to do things in accordance with the law. You cannot just jump on a speed boat and go to another man’s country like that,” the Senior Magistrate told Glen Joseph of St. Lucia before fining him a total of $1,200 forthwith, after Joseph pleading guilty to four charges of illegal entry.
Joseph was charged with that on October 13, 2021, at Chateaubelair, while being a prohibited immigrant, entered the state without a passport.
He was also charged with that on October 13, 2021, he entered the state, other than at a port of entry, and that on the same date, at Chateubelair, entered the state by boat, and disembarked with the consent of an immigration officer.
Joseph is additionally charged with knowingly and willfully allowing himself to be landed as a prohibited immigrant.
Joseph was fined $300 forthwith or two months in prison on each charge. If he fails to pay the fines the sentences will run concurrently.
Burnett also made an order for Joseph to be removed from the state upon payment of the fines, or completion of the sentences.
According to the facts presented by Prosecutor Curlene Samuel, Joseph was met at a house at Mc Carthy where police, acting on information, had gone to execute a search warrant in respect of controlled drugs, on January 2, 2022. He gave his name as Glen Joseph of St. Lucia, and told the police he came here on October 3, 2021.
Checks were made and there was no record of Joseph entering the state.
Joseph told the court he came to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, along with others, for a funeral but he remained in St. Vincent while the others left.
Source ; The Vincentian