‘Do not come back’ – Chief Magistrate

Fines were imposed Wednesday at the Serious Offences Court on nationals of Venezuela and Guyana after they pleaded guilty to disembarking without consent at Union Island.{{more}}

Victor Marcano, a Venezuelan national, was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 or be imprisoned for three months and Clive Gladd, a Guyanese, was fined $2,500 or will face up to six months imprisonment.

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young also imposed a deportation order on Gladd.

Both men first appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, with Marcano being assisted by an interpreter. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court heard that Marcano and Gladd were discovered on a boat travelling to mainland St Vincent, just off the coast of Canouan on Sunday, November 24.

According to the police, members of the drug squad and coastguard were conducting patrols and stopped the vessel, requesting a search, with which the captain complied.

Five persons were on board the vessel, including Marcano and Gladd.

Marcano was questioned, but did not respond. After a search was conducted and a Venezuelan passport found in his back pocket, it was realised that he did not understand English.

The other defendant, Gladd, was also questioned and he responded, saying that he was from Guyana.

Both men were transported to Kingstown and were taken to the immigration authorities where all ports of entry were checked by the immigration officials.

Grant Connell, legal counsel for the men said that he was informed by Marcano that he came to Union Island on a shrimp trawler and while there, he met Gladd.

He then indicated to Gladd that he wanted to go to the mainland and he questioned Gladd about the presence of a Venezuelan embassy.

Connell said Gladd then indicated to Marcano that he too was looking to go to the mainland to deal with some matters – that he had been here three years ago when money was taken from him by local law enforcement authorities and that he was thrown out of the country.

Connell said that he was instructed by Gladd that all efforts to contact the authorities here and his lawyer then, Jomo Thomas, proved futile and that he was coming to St Vincent to see what the position was regarding the issue.

Young, as she handed down the sentence to both men, told Gladd that he was not to return to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“I do not wish for your presence in St Vincent,” she said.

“Do not come back,” the chief magistrate said. (DD)