News
Five Illegals fined; with ‘No Money’ they will serve time in TCI Prison
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Reporter
#TurksandCaicos, December 29, 2023 – As the month of December draws to a close and as we prepare to cross-over into the New Year, the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) law enforcement agencies (comprising_ the TCI Regiment soldiers; the police Marine Branch; Immigration task force and officers of the RTCIPF were extremely busy maintaining an amped up presence and aiming to keep at bay any illegal landings of migrants aiming to escape nearby Haiti.
At the TCI Courts, a number of cases were called during the Christmas Holidays including one on Thursday, December 28th where five individuals of Haitian decent appeared before the acting Resident Magistrate, Patricia Arana in the Magistrate’s Court in Providenciales.
All were charged with a sole count of unlawful/illegal entry in the TCI on two different dates in early December.
Four men were charged in relation to an interception on December 6th. It was a Haitian sloop with about 150 people on board.
Another man was charged for a December 4th interception of an illegal Haitian boat with about 200 irregular migrants aboard.
The migrants who illegally entered were repatriated or still being held at the South Dock Road detention center, pending repatriation.
All five men, when the charges were read to them, without hesitation pleaded guilty with one defendant breaking down into sobs in the courtroom, appearing sorry for the infraction. The four others appeared remorseful also.
When asked by the Magistrate if they have anything to say before she passed sentence; there were intriguing explanations.
Admissions about ambitions for work in the Turks and Caicos were shared; and a repeat in the court, stories about the struggle to survive in Haiti, which remains embattled and embroiled in chaos due to gang insurgencies within the Republic which are blamed for murders of law enforcers and civilians.
The men said the money earned in the Turks and Caicos would have been used to take care of their children at home in Haiti. Those who paid, coughed up $3,000 for the voyage; others stowed away for the ride, while yet more explained they were not certain of the final stop for the boat.
One of the five charged men had tried to enter the country illegally before; his name was picked up in the
The Resident Magistrate sentenced each to a fine of $3,000 or three months in prison.
#1. ANDERSON JEFFLY, 24, said he had no money and would do the time in prison
#2. STANDRO EUGUENE 18, sent to prison to serve the three months
#3. MARCELIN DORCELUS, 28, also had no money for the fine and was sent to prison
#4. DJINO PIERRE 52, elected to go to prison
#5. JAMES FLORIVAL 32, said “we no got money” and will have to serve three months at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The Resident Magistrate recommend immediate deportation for each if they pay the fines or after they’ve served the sentences.