Oliver fined $1,500 for cannabis cultivation

Campden Park resident Desron Oliver was fined $1,500 on Monday, August 29, for cultivating 54 mature plants of cannabis at the York Mountains in Campden Park, on August 28.{{more}}

Oliver appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court earlier this week and pleaded guilty to the charge.

Senior Magistrate Donald Browne ordered the 33-year-old man to pay the fine forthwith or spend nine months in jail.

The facts in the matter stated that police officers from the Rapid Response Unit were on foot patrol in the York Mountains when they came across a marijuana plantation, where Oliver was met ploughing the field.

When cautioned by officers, Oliver replied, “Officer, things hard; me ah try build ah house.”

Before sentencing, Oliver’s lawyer Grant Connell told the court that his client is a father of two young children. He also stated the fact Oliver did not waste the court’s time and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Connell further pleaded with the court to impose a small fine on his client.

Magistrate Browne, in response to Connell, asked him if things are so hard, how is Oliver going to pay a fine.

“If times are hard, why don’t you plant dasheen and tannia. You don’t come and tell me about times hard. You are a marijuana farmer,” Browne told Oliver.(KW)