Haitian Man slips through Airport despite being on Stop List, says he is NOT GUILTY

Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#TurksandCaicos, September 2, 2023 – The big question Immigration authorities will have to answer when the trial against DIEUSEUL EUGENE commences in the Magistrate’s Court, is, how a man who is on the Immigration and Governor’s ‘Stop List’ managed to lawfully enter the Turks and Caicos Islands(TCI) through the Providenciales International Airport on a flight from Haiti.

Attorney-at-Law, Keith James indicated the same point to the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Angela Brooks and to the Court; stating that this will also be his line of defense when the matter was called for mention on Wednesday July 26th, 2023.

Mr. James also asked for certain evidential disclosure of receipts and other relevant material to enable him to pitch an adequate defense on behalf of his client.

The case was moved to August 17th, 2023.

The accused was granted $10,000.00 bail.

Eugene is charged with two offenses: Possession of false certificate (A Fake TCI PRC) and Entering the Islands while on the Stop List.

When the case came up on Thursday 17th August 2023 and the Court asked Mr. James if he had received his disclosure? The defense attorney said “yes Your Honour, I just got them about five minutes ago; I haven’t had a chance to check and see what all is there but yes your Honour.”

Given this development, the Hon. Chief Magistrate then transferred the matter to the Hon. Resident Magistrate Oreika Selver-Gardiner at Court #3 for mention and trial.

It was then adjourned to Monday August 21st, 2023.

The defendant is not required to attend that hearing and his bail is extended.