Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Correspondent 

#TurksandCaicos, April 20, 2024 – ERROL DALLAVANTY WILLIAMS aka Rooster, a Jamaican living in Five Cays; DAVIAN CLARINCE ROYE, a Jamaican living on Back Road, Blue Hills and a local female AYANNA ASTWOOD of Five Cays, were all the occupants of a small car that was driven by Astwood attempting to drive through the police security check point at SUZIE TURN ROUNDABOUT, on the night of Friday April 5, 2024 when they raised suspicions.

Royal TCI Police say in looking at all three in the vehicle and after closer observation of accused DAVIAN CLARINCE ROYE, “his eyes were blood red” and this is when they decided to conduct a stop and search of the vehicle and the occupants.

Around a quarter pound of weed was found in the vehicle and all three occupants were jointly charged with possession of controlled drugs, namely the cannabis found in the vehicle.

They were all arrested and taken into custody.

Reportedly, an additional very small quantity of suspected cannabis was found on the lone female AYANNA ASTWOOD when her person was searched by a female police officer, later, at the Chalk Sound Police Station. She was charged with that small quantity of marijuana and accepted responsibility by pleading guilty to that charge and not guilty to the weed found in the vehicle.

ERROL DALLAVANTY WILLIAMS pleaded not guilty to the suspected marijuana found in the vehicle, and he pleaded not guilty to the immigration offense of remaining in the islands beyond the permitted time.

DAVIAN CLARINCE ROYE on Thursday April 11, 2024 pleaded guilty to the drug found in the vehicle, taking all the responsibility for all the drugs in the vehicle, and he pleaded guilty to being in the islands illegally and unlawfully.

On Wednesday April 10th, ROYE was first brought before the court under the proceeds of crime Ordinance.

He was found with $950.00 dollars cash on him. Asked, how he got the money by financial crime unit Inspector Paulin Nemours, he said he was fishing as he lived here illegal for some three years.

The then acting DPP Mrs. Angela Brooks told the Chief Magistrate that her office was unable to prove the money was from the sale of drugs, though admission that funds were derived from fishing still makes it illegally obtained because ROYE has no status in the Islands and no fishing licence.

The court after hearing from ROYE’s attorney Mr. Ashwood Forbes did order the Crown’s forfeiture application and the $950.00 was confiscated for the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The prosecution, Ms. Richardson applied to the Hon. Chief Magistrate Mr Jolyon Hatmin to have both Jamaicans remanded to custody pending the conclusion of the case, but female defense attorney Mrs. Leanna Brooks Campbell got up after hearing the Crown’s application for remand submissions and told the court there’s no need to remand Rooster because he’s now married to Mrs. AYANNA ASTWOOD, so he’s not here illegally, and he can not be deported.

She admitted they’re still waiting on certain documentation, but they are a married couple and bail should not be refused.

She also reminded the court that ‘Rooster’ was on bail in another immigration case of unlawful entry months ago, and he has continued to make his court dates.

The learned Chief Magistrate was reminded that, that case only came to end on March 5th, this year.

WILLIAMS was granted $7500.00 baill and the other defendant, DAVIAN CLARINCE ROYE was remanded pending sentencing for the drugs in the vehicle and the unlawful entry charge.

AYANNA ASTWOOD was granted bail in the sum of $2000.00 and all three have to return to court next Friday April 19th, 2024.

The Crown will advise if they intend to withdraw the charges in connection to the illicit drugs found in the vehicle against Rooster Williams and his wife or proceed to a trial against the couple despite ROYE’S guilty plea in an attempt to accept full responsibility for the serious offense.