Liberian national sentenced for cannabis and illegal stay

A Liberian national who has been residing in Dominica illegally for over a year has been sentenced to serve one month in prison after pleading guilty to the possession of cannabis.

Additionally, he was ordered to be removed from the state upon serving that sentence.

Spencer Garnett who came to Dominica on a boat which he worked as a cook, has been living in Portsmouth since his arrival even after his application to stay was denied by the immigration department.

Garnett told a Roseau magistrate that he had no contact with anyone else in the world except with someone in the US whom he has been trying to get in touch with.

He had, according to the prosecutor, lived in the Caribbean since 2007.

Garnett was apprehended by police after a report of threats was launched against him on January 31.

Police met the defendant at a shop in Glanvillia where he was confronted about the report.

The police say he was searched and a quantity of marijuana found in his possession.

“This is marijuana, I am not a seller I just bought it to smoke,” the Liberian told police.

When Magistrate Candia George asked the defendant whether he knew if cannabis was illegal he replied “yes”.

About his illegal stay, Garnett explained to the court that when he first came to Dominica he visited a Petite Savanne woman and later found out that his passport had expired, as did his cooking contract on the vessel on which he came.

He said he went to immigration to get an extension but was denied.

In a plea of mitigation, the defendant said he was very sorry for the offense and was just trying to get through life.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

36 Comments

  1. FACEUP
    February 8, 2012

    ONE LOVE MY BLACK BROTHER, I WISH YOU THE BEST, BLESSINGS !!!!

  2. Smh
    February 6, 2012

    That is why Government should urge the people at Immigration to be more vigilante when people enter the country. Your return ticket says 15 of March; for example; then on the 15th of March leave the country. Also gave information as to where you are going to stay: address, name of host in the country, you know any form of contact information as is done in for example Barbados, Guadeloupe. If is on business then that is stated on your Immigration form- don’t remain then offer petty excuses. We need to step up security at our border

  3. Justice and Truth
    February 5, 2012

    Sout man, based on the evidence, I do believe and am convinced the Haitian man should have been allowed to stay. An injustice was done to him. I wonder if he would want to return to DA? If he returns, he should be given resident status and considering that he has a child who was born in DA. This man appears to be an exemplary resident and a hard working one. He deserves compassion and to be given a second chance. I wonder where he is at this moment.

  4. yoyo
    February 5, 2012

    I know it is the law not to possess weed, and i also understand that he is illegal in the country, but the government should have some kind of amnesty program whereby, if someone leaves their country due to duress or retribution from the country or even political instability, they should be given a fair hearing to determine if they meet certain criteria stated by law,and if so, they should be given the necessary document to become a Dominican.Also, they must take into consideration that if the man has no place or family to go back to Africa then it would be an injustice to send him to live a life of destitute or poverty. What about if someone wants to kill him? Remember,Charles Taylor was one of the most brutal president found in Africa, an his atrocities were committed against Liberians. I am totally against someone going to jail for having a joint in his possession. He could have done community service and a fine, but not jail.

  5. may
    February 5, 2012

    IF HE KNOWS HIS IN DA ILLEGAL HE SHOULD NOT
    BE THREATING NO ONE. HE HAS A LITTLE COOKING
    JOB KEEP DOING AND STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. SOME
    PEOPLE ARE SO WICKED MAYBE THEY KNEW HE IS
    HERE ILLEGAL PROVOKED HIM AND WHEN HE RESPONSED HE REPORTED HIM TO THE COPS. WE
    ALL HAVE FAMILY WE SHOULD LIVE AND LET LIVE

  6. sweet
    February 5, 2012

    i would leave him here he is a cook, send him to cook for the jail, because they need some nutrious food up there.

  7. apache
    February 4, 2012

    sending him to jail for a month means free boarding and lodging:and deportation is still the gov’t paying the trip.in the end who lose?

  8. D/CAN IN NYC
    February 3, 2012

    AM IN AMERICA ILLEGAL MYSELF,AND CERTAINLY,I AM NOT INVOLVE IN ANY TYPE OF CRIME OR VIOLENCE..MY ONLY OFFENCE IS OVERSTAYING MY STAY IN THE USA..AND BET YOU AM NOT WASTING MY TIME AND AM LIVING A DECENT LIFE WORKING MON-FRI,6AM=4-30PM.AND THE OTHER THING ALL MY $$$S IS SAVING IN THE NATURE ISLE.HE DESERVE TO BE DEPORTED FOR THREATENING PEOPLE,AND DEALING IN DRUGS.

  9. Anonymous
    February 3, 2012

    Theforiegners are coming to dominica utilizing all of our resources, and still disrespect our people, they look down at the native dominicans, the chines dont even want to touch your hand when giving you change at there stores,i saw a haiten lady, and a dominican vendor next to each other who refuse to share a scale when buying tomatoes on the street corner.

    It is a community divide. MAY GOD HELP US ALL.

    • truth be told
      February 7, 2012

      My dear Dominicans if you want foreigners to respect you in your country, stop doing business with them. There is nothing that can destroy a business like stop doing business with them. JUST STOP DOING BUSINESS WITH THOSE FOREIGNERS. BELIEVE ME THEY ARE NOT IN DOMINICA BECAUSE THEY LOVE DOMINICANS, THEY SIMPLY WANT YOUR BUSINESS THAT’S ALL.

  10. Observer
    February 3, 2012

    That is nonsense, we have chinese pawtoo, and we deportng Arican.Who make ganja illegalis de Amercans that dictating to us, and now we gon foo,foo, we more enslaved now than before, because we allowint the same system that enslaved us to rule us.Dame mental slaves .

    • blood
      February 3, 2012

      n now some states in america making it legal while in england if caught with a spliff u get a warning,mind u they giving u bout 3 warnings….smh but down here if them police smell it on u they want to raise their hands n rough u up.police can take legal drugs(rum)n pharmacy can sell legal drugs hmmmmm

  11. grell
    February 3, 2012

    why should he go to to jail for a year thats crap.just deport the man back to his country magistrate i think you are smoking that stuff too.the taxpayers are gonna be taking care of the bill.you need to wake up woman.

    • Anonymous
      February 3, 2012

      Did you read the news item. READ it again because clearly you either cannot read or you cannot understand

      • Anonymous
        February 3, 2012

        The taxpayers will also be footing the bill to repatriate him under escort. That’s at least three tickets you have to pay for!

      • B. E .B
        February 4, 2012

        He could’nt see that the guy was sentensed to one month in prison? May be he was too high on the drug

    • junior
      February 5, 2012

      WHEN DOMINICANS ARE HELD IN THE U.S WITHOUT PAPERS THEY ARE SENT TO PUERTO RICO FOR AT LESAT A YEAR. THE MAN HAD MARIJUANA AND HAD BEEN LIVING HERE ILLEGALLY, ONE MONTH JAIL IS NOT ENOUGH. I DON’T MEAN TO BE HEARTLESS BUT THAT IS HOW THEY WOULD HAVE TREATED ONE OF US

  12. Gee
    February 3, 2012

    ****LAW & ORDER****

    I understand his situation……..BUT….

    !!WE HAVE RULES AND LAW!!!

    They must be obeyed!!!! If not then everyone will do what they please. That will bring lawlessness and chaos to everyone! It’s a small issue I know but still the law must be followed.

    However I wish him well, I really do!

    • A kiss for admin
      February 3, 2012

      WASNT IT SO WHEN OUR CONSTITUTION WAS NOT UPHELD IN A COURT OF LAW??? DIDNT IT BRING LAWLESSNESS THEN???? SMFH

      • Peeping Tom
        February 3, 2012

        Gee’s comment also applies to that case, A kiss for admin. It is about time that you accept this reality…law prevailed….the Constitution was upheld.

        Seems you are speaking of some other constitution, not Dominica’s. If you are referring to Dominica’s Constitution, read carefully the relevant sections…carefully.

  13. diggs
    February 3, 2012

    I Do understand that law and order must be maintained, however i do feel that putting some one in jail for being illegal is too much beside our GOVERNMENT MUST REMEMBER HOW MANY OF IT CITIZENS THAT ARE IN LIVING IN OTHER COUNTRY ILLEGALLY IF THAT WAS TO HAPPEN TO ALL IT CITIZEN HOW WOULD THEY BE FEELING CONSIDERING THAT SO MANY OF ITS PEOPLE ARE MIGRATING TO OTHER COUNTRY TO BETTER THEMSELVES SOME HUMAN FEELING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED HERE ( lET THE MAN GO )

    • Justice and Truth
      February 3, 2012

      @ diggs

      What are you stating? What has the DA government to do with Dominicans who are illegal in other countries? This case has absolutely nothing to do with them. It is not the government’s business. It is the business of DA nationals if they wish to live illegally in other countries.
      The man resided in DA illegally. He was denied an extension and did not leave the country. I could understand that probably he did not have money to pay his passage to return to his country. This is where, since he was deported, the government of “any country” should assist such people to return to their country, as also providing Police escort for them out of the country and into the hands of their government, namely the Police.
      If people are caught residing in a country illegally and is to be deported, they will be arrested and imprisoned. They should not be out in public as they could be considered a flight risk and may hide elsewhere in the country.
      The government does not merely deport a person and expect that the person will depart on his/her own and without money for a plane ticket. How could he have returned otherwise?
      On the other hand, he knew that he is illegal and he should have conducted himself appropriately. He is not a smart man. This should be a lesson for all those who are illegal in DA and other countries. Do not blame the government, the magistrate or judge in this respect.
      Life must be sweet and better in DA while those people migrate to Dominica and want to remain. Some of them do make a living in DA. DA national residents should also learn a lesson from this. Life in Dominica is not that bad after all.

  14. February 3, 2012

    let’s be real…. there must be something sweet about d.a…. all dem man staying dere when they come…. the man trying to make a change in life and has supposedly thought that d.a is that place… i think some people can be assisted man… no big scene… but the recent statistics show d.a have more man than woman… i have a problem with that… man coming from j.a.. haiti.. antigua and everywhere where else n giving us competition then… we may have to start deporting some of them…

    • Justice and Truth
      February 3, 2012

      @ mouth of the south

      I did not read your comments prior to commenting. “Life in DA is sweet”. :lol: Surprised to read yours. Excellent comment. Some nationals do not appreciate their country and also try to help themselves as they also try to assist others and their nation.
      It is too bad he was deported and was found smoking cannabis. He did not make things better for him.

  15. i
    February 3, 2012

    i agree with you boy. do what you want DA is free.i would do the same in your native land.

  16. tiny
    February 3, 2012

    those police don’t have nothing better to do?….they should have left the man alone….i was illegal in America for a while….and i did not consider myself as committing no crime…send the man jail for nonsense………..

    wha happen they need more inmates man?…..prison officers need more working hours?

    • ..........
      February 3, 2012

      tiny you are a bunch of nonsense wi pal. i doe no why someone in the states dont notify the police to come and get your scount!

      • tiny
        February 3, 2012

        how do you know whether I’m still in the states…

    • NSJ
      February 3, 2012

      You may not have considered yourself illegal or committing a crime but you were.

    • Asterix
      February 3, 2012

      Are you for folks for real? Didn’t you all read a report of threats was made against him? He is already living in Dominica illegally and he still has the audacity to threaten people while in possesion of an illegal substance. He brought police attention to himself.

      • Sout Man
        February 3, 2012

        Very true. The Haitian who set up his barber shop was the one who needed a break. He is a CARICOM national.

      • Justice and Truth
        February 5, 2012

        @ Asterix

        He was not a smart man. In the words, he asked for it.

    • B. E .B
      February 4, 2012

      Tiny ! you said that you over stayed a whole year in America, but did you get yourself involved in any crime in the State? If you did, the cops would surely got involved and you would be deported

      • Justice and Truth
        February 5, 2012

        @ E.B.

        …And he got caught…

    • Boss man
      February 6, 2012

      i can tell you are such an ass……..

      • Justice and Truth
        February 7, 2012

        Some Boss man. What about you?

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available