Vincentian to know fate after years on remand in Barbaods jail

A Barbadian and a Vincentian, who have been in prison in Barbados since October 20, 2011, will find out in three weeks’ time, what sentence they have to serve for marijuana possession and trafficking.

After being on remand for six years, on October 19, 2017, Earl Harold Warren, of Lowmans Hill, St Vincent, and Derrick Savannaus Grant, of 2nd Avenue, Kendal Hill B, Christ Church, pleaded guilty to possession, trafficking and importation of 745.5 kilogrammes of cannabis, worth over $3.2 million.

They will be sentenced on December 13.

The court heard that acting on information, the police went to Batts Rock Beach around 5:40 a.m. on October 20, 2011 and on arrival, they saw Warren and Grant aboard a yellow boat called Secret Treasure.

The police also saw four other men in the water, as well as a number of floating packages. On seeing the police, the vessel sped away and ran aground on Brandons Beach, St Michael.

It was reported that Warren and Grant jumped off the boat and attempted to flee the area by foot, but were apprehended along Westbury Road.

Warren, a mason by trade, was 35 years old at the time of the offence. He told police that Grant had approached him the day before the incident near a bar in St Vincent and offered to pay him $10,000 to carry marijuana on a boat to Barbados. He said two other Bajan men were picked up and the illegal substance collected.

Grant, a fisherman, was 42 years old at the time.

While corroborating the Vincentian’s story, Grant told police the marijuana was not his.

“I only drive the boat up here,” he said.

After hearing the facts, Madam Justice Michelle Weekes said that she wanted pre-sentencing reports on the two drug-accused.

Both men have already served six calendar years on remand, which is equivalent to eight years in prison time in Barbados.