Overstaying lands Haitian in hot water

Despite incessant pleas from his lawyer, a Haitian national who pleaded guilty to overstaying and engaging in gainful employment without a permit, has been ordered to be removed from the state.

Pierre Richard Cervilus, who owns and operates a barber shop at La Lay Grand Bay, appeared before Magistrate Candia George this morning.

According to his charge, Cervilus failed to leave the country without presenting himself to the immigration department after he was permitted to stay in Dominica for three months. Cervilus arrived in Dominica on July 22, 2007 via the Melville Hall Airport.

According to the details of the case, which were read by Police Prosecutor Inspector Claude Weekes, the defendant was granted an extension of stay for the period November 23, 2007 to February 28, 2008.

Records from the immigration department did not indicate that the defendant presented himself for a further extension of stay, nor did he attempt to get regularized during the amnesty ordered by government in 2010 following the disastrous Haiti earthquake, Weekes said.

Facts of the case also revealed that Cervilus did not have a valid work permit. When asked why he did not seek to get regularized, the defendant refused to give a satisfactory reason, Weekes said.

“I sorry, but I was afraid,” he told police.

Cervilus was apprehended during a police mobile patrol in Grand Bay on December 31, 2011.

At about 3: 30 p.m. Sergeant V. Cadette and other officers had received certain information and approached the defendant. On noticing his accent police asked about his nationality to which Cervilus identified himself as a Haitian national who had been living in Dominica for the past five years.  When asked for his passport, the defendant could not make it available.

He later showed police a Haitian passport which expires on May 26, 2016 and told police that he had a previous passport which was maliciously destroyed by his girlfriend (a Dominican) during a fight about three years ago.

As to whether the defendant made a report about his passport being destroyed, the immigration department confirmed that they had received no such information.

His lawyer Wayne Norde asked the court to treat his client’s situation as an exceptional one. He said that Cervilus had initially applied for a work permit while his stay was valid and that it was in the process of being organized but was halted when his passport got destroyed.

Norde asked the court not to send his client back to Haiti stating that it was very difficult to get a visa to return to Dominica.

“His intentions are good,” Norde told the court.” Pointing to the court that his client had applied for the permit a second time and had a registered barbershop in Grand Bay, Norde told the court that his client had a three year old son who is dependent on him and had made his life here.

Magistrate George however, drew attention to the passport being torn three years ago (2009), which she said leaves the defendant with an entire year to seek an extension of stay.

“His intention was never to run from the law,” Norde responded. “I’m asking you to treat this one as an exceptional circumstance” he pleaded.

While acknowledging that Cervilus had indeed contributed to the economy and was in good standing with the law, save for today’s offenses, she stressed that the message needs to be sent out that “when people come here they need to get regularized and do thing properly.”

“When they are here they need to do it right,” she reiterated.

She drew attention to an instance where she had allowed a non-national to remain in the country simply due to the fact that the woman had a new born baby that needed to be breast fed and she did not wish to separate the mother. “I do not see that this one (Cervilus’s matter) as exceptional,” she told the court.

In presenting her sentence George stated, “I know you have not gotten yourself in any criminal activity, however the criminal laws of the land have to be respected. While you made efforts to get regularized, there was a period where an extension was not sought.”

Weekes in efforts to strengthen the prosecution’s case said that while he too believes that the defendant had made a contribution to society, “what is right is right and what is wrong it wrong.”

“While we are seeking to help Haitians and others we have to do it right, they cannot just do anything. It has to be within the parameters of the law,” he added.

Cervilus was ordered to be removed from the state with “proper escort.”

He was not deported and is free to return at any time.

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.

118 Comments

  1. is me
    January 9, 2012

    allu them dominicans there to stupid.every day them haitian leaving dominica whether is for martinique, guadeloupe or st maarten, and immigration at the airport doesn’t even let them pass anymore with new immigration laws towards haitian and haitian only, so when allu saying them people want to take dominica from us, then compare the population of haitians in dominica in 2005 to now 2012.

  2. Nkrumah Kwame
    January 9, 2012

    Let me say first that the law MUST be respected at all times; i will in NO way support the breaking of our laws by ANYONE. Nontheless, i find the decision difficult to understand. This brother has been gainfully employed and has not found himself in trouble with the law save this case in question. Could he not have been allowed to remain here while he rectifies his situation (within a specified period of time clearly)and or be asked to pay a fine for this breach? Do magistrates have discretionary powersa? This issue of homophobia gets us nowhere: so many Dominicans living in other countries, but some of the comments posted above seem to think that sometime soon we will be over run by non Dominicans; this fear is unjustified. And we must never forget that we are sitting on SEVEN dormant volcanoes …. anyday we too may need compassion expressed towards us from another quarter.
    HOTEP!!

    • January 12, 2012

      this action is not homophobia..it’s hard but it’s just the law.why we always want the law to go our way.i live abroad and this is the exact prosidure.they even gave him a chance.abroad they would post u home with only what u have on your shoulders.he just have to get his papers in order.having a properwork with good conduct will not help him.GET HIS PAPERS STRAIGHT.That’s all they asking .his problem is not because he is a hatian.and if our volcanoes get lively we will have to go through the same thing.OUR PAPERS IN ORDER

  3. D A MSSIVE
    January 9, 2012

    I AM LIVING IN ANOTHER MAN COUNTRY & I HAVE TO ABIDE BY THERE LAW PLEASE LET THE LAW OF DOMINICA BE THE LAW OF DOMINICA

  4. Dents chien
    January 8, 2012

    send them back. They even ready to step on Dominicans like they own Dominica. They need to do things right. If all of them leave Haiti then who going to rebuild Haiti for them. Dominica cannot support all of us plus them. It does not even have enough jobs for our locals. They must come with clean hands and heart. If is visit you visiting then visit…if you come to stay fix yourself up properly. America and other big countries deporting so why cant we? Respect our laws people

  5. maxtron
    January 8, 2012

    So at what point should dominica stop taking in illegal haitians? what number of them will be alright. What is the cut-off point?
    I want somebody to answer.

    Why is only Dominica that have to take a dis proportionate amount of haitian aliens? Dominica has been kind enough let somebody else take up the slack.

    When your future generation will be suffering the marginalisation and competition for limited resources I hope you have the guts to accept full responsibility for your emotive reactions. Don’t say you were not warned

  6. maxtron
    January 8, 2012

    Why is it that Dominica and Dominicans want to take full responsibility of the plight of all Haitians?
    Why is it that dominicans are encouraging haitians to break our laws?
    dominica economy and land mass is too small to sustain that. With close to 7000 haitians onland and growinging this will cause ethnic and economic problems for the future. Hatians are avery dominant people and they will soon dispossess dominicans and take the land from you. See how they have pushed the vendors out of the market place already.

  7. Nana
    January 8, 2012

    Hey the law is the law. U break it u receive the penalty. Any country would do the same

  8. Anonymous
    January 8, 2012

    is that a case of revalance to write such a long irrelevant story? waste of time. at least he was a barbar. what about all the haitian teachers and doers of evil promoting hate and division? do they have work permit?

  9. ahhh
    January 7, 2012

    no more nice hair cuts for them la lay boys

  10. TJ
    January 7, 2012

    Since he can return, why send him away? The current state of affairs in Haiti should have been one of arguments of his lawyer. He is our brother

  11. Justice and Truth
    January 7, 2012

    The thought has crossed my mind what I read about a year or so ago that the Prime Minister stated he will not send the Haitians away. Is this magistrate not aware of that or has she forgotten?
    If this is the case, I do think that this magistrate should not take it upon herself to send the Haitian away but should first consult the Prime Minister.
    So he overstayed and he was working. He is not the first. The Mexican woman of all did it and she may be still in Dominica.
    Fellow Dominicans every one of you should rally peacefully in favor of this man. The magistrate was not fair to him.

    • Anonymous
      January 7, 2012

      As much as I am in support of granting this Hatian an exception, no magistrate has to consult with the political directorate to make a ruling. This is dangerous and with all due respect, utter rubbish – ****. Magistrates should base their rulings on the constitution and the laws of the land. Their discretion is allowed in many instances and that’s where precedence and common sense comes in.

      • Justice and Truth
        January 12, 2012

        @ Anonymous

        Some of you overlook the Haitians plight. If you are in another country as other Dominicans, it is the same manner in which some of you will act as the Haitians. Therefore you are being hypocritical and unfair.
        You have forgotten that the Haitian man is a refugee. What is more he was not sitting down and expecting freebies from the government or Dominicans. He worked. I do believe that someone was jealous of him and wanted him out of the island. May be with their obeah?
        Due to the massive and destructive earthquake and prior to that a hurricane which devastated Haiti he came to Dominica as other Haitians.
        What was the condition which was explained to them how long they could reside in DA? There seems to be some confusion.
        My further view is that as I have previously stated, this magistrate lacks compassion. She should have been lenient. Based on this she should have given him a second chance. Every one deserves a second chance and should receive it. Furthermore, she should have put herself in his situation. Where does she expect him to go?
        God gives a second chance and many more chances. God will take care of her in time for what goes around comes around. If you are in DA keep your eyes on her. She will get just what she deserves from no other than God. She is not a good, kind, loving Christian. May God rebuke her in His time and all others who have no compassion for this man. They have immensely offended God.

  12. Anonymous
    January 6, 2012

    I was given a chance and alot of us had . them people go though alot .

    • Justice and Truth
      January 12, 2012

      @ Anonymous

      Are you the same Anonymous who comments? Note your previous comment. If so, you contradict yourself and are two-faced.

  13. January 6, 2012

    i am respect the justice but someting we have to forgive and forget because if we want God to forgive us we have to forgive the hothers we all are siner and if some one trying to get a bether tommorow if u can t hell hime dont disture hime . because if we are there dat mean we are loocking likes, if we loocking licke s we can love one a nother, when we love one a nother the will know how good people we be. love and respct forall dominicans iam from haiti

    • Justice and Truth
      January 12, 2012

      @ Billy Alfred

      I wholeheartedly endorse what you stated. Your Haitian fellowman should have been allowed to stay. It upsets me that the magistrate would have done something like that. I do believe that she has no basic common sense. If she possessed any she would have utilized it. These are they who go to Church and who ask God for forgiveness and they are unable to grant it to others. They are a bunch of hypocrites. If she cannot forgive in this case, a Haitian hardworking migrant who led an exemplary life in DA, God will never forgive her. Mark my words. This woman is unfair and unjust. She does not know that there are exceptions to the rule. She will, one day, reap what she sows. People as her place a curse on themselves and their household because of their lack of love. God has seen and heard. He cannot bless someone as her. God is good and God is patient.

  14. me
    January 6, 2012

    There was nothing wrong done here, he over stayed, and from some reports did not behave himself too good which might come like news to some, but if you do some research you will know more about the story. They just don’t deport people here just like that, go ask his so called wife.

    • Justice and Truth
      January 12, 2012

      @ me

      In what way did he not behave himself? Exlain yourself What has that got to do with the Court if he is not a criminal? Did he have another girlfriend? Did he abuse her? He cannot be deported on that basis. If he were then the magistrate should have revealed it and not state that he overstayed. Otherwise, she discriminated against him. In this case, he has a right to appeal.
      If he abused a woman then she should lodge a complaint on that basis. Did he not financially support his child?
      She probably is a jealous woman who wanted his money and wanted him out. Her attitude probably was, “if I cannot have you and all to myself, no other woman will.” She should seek employment if she does not have one and not depend on a man or men to support her. This is not grounds for deportation.
      What type of Dominican Law is this who would deport this man on that basis that, “he did not behave himself? I would call this a stupid Law.
      Furthermore, if the magistrate knew this she should have thrown the case out of Court. Whoever is responsible for his deportation will pay a dear price in time for it is not a loving act.
      The magistrate should consider where is this man going to and where will he stay? Did she not care about that for a man who is a migrant?
      In what other manner did he not behave himself? You make it sound as if he is a disobedient child.
      There are convicted Dominican drug addicts and murderers who are out on bail and are walking the streets who pose a menace to nationals. Then you people complain and cry about that. Take what you get. This is your punishment for being so inconsiderate and lack compassion. God rewards the good and punishes the wicked of heart. No one will escape.

  15. Joe
    January 6, 2012

    Word on de street, is a girlfriend boyfriend ting…more like babymama babydaddy ting. Word is she stressing over every babydaddy, an keep pestering police to go after him for a long time….but laws are laws anyway, we get same treatment when Jeandarm catch us in Gwada or migration in VI. He should av married.

    • Justice and Truth
      January 12, 2012

      @ Joe

      Based on what this person stated I suspected that it had something to do with a woman. A woman scorned no doubt. This is not grounds for deportation.
      The magistrate is unjust so is this woman. For God’ sake the man is a Haitian migrant. He may have needed counseling not deportation.
      As God is the Judge and final One, they will pay for it sooner or later. No one harms another and gets away with it.

  16. FamousK
    January 6, 2012

    he was wrong to overstay. he should apply for extension but on the other hand, that alone they seeing. haitians anc chinese making a contribution to society while our native boys on the road playing with drugs and guns.what a shame!

    • ooooh la la
      January 7, 2012

      this is so true. haitians doing agriculture and opening barbar shops while dominicans doing armed robbery and gunnung down each other in broad daylight

  17. gbay
    January 6, 2012

    i know pierre and alas the man dere for how long the man grandbay you wouldnt even say he’s there and the man trying to make his lil money to help his self and child allu sselling him out!!!!!!!! that is pure jealousy that just isnt fair grandbay ppl awa papa papa papa so sorryyyyyy pierre the man dere for all dat time they not supposed to send him back; so many Haitians that spreeing in dca dat one esp they get??? hmmm

    • Justice and Truth
      January 12, 2012

      @ gbay:

      If I were him I would have moved elsewhere in DA and if possible with his child, far away from that woman. He made a mistake by staying in Grand Bay and near that woman. Surely there are other Dominican women elsewhere in DA who could make him happy.

  18. aaa
    January 6, 2012

    we the people from dominica do it why cant they

  19. birdy_1964
    January 6, 2012

    Shop rite you are so so right. any country that don’t respect thier border are doom for life. Country St.maarten need to respect there border line, Minister Doncan and Prime minister Sara three countries were to given visas. two was given. the other one still pending on the the list.Respect country St.maarten.

    • Justice and Truth
      January 12, 2012

      @ virdy_1964

      There is a difference. The man is a Haitian migrant. He probably would not have been in DA if a hurricane and earthquake did not occur in his country. You should not compare him to those who migrate to those countries under normal circumstances. This is self-explanatory.

      • Justice and Truth
        January 12, 2012

        :oops: @ birdy _1964

  20. birdy_1964
    January 6, 2012

    I HOPE Minister Rolland Doncan read how the laws in dominica treat people of there own kind. Sorry to say 45% Dominican living in sxm &st.martin illegal. some did unforseen crime. no visa was permitt on dominicans, because there are very good hard working ones. Haitains are relax people, he need someone to help him with english. Sxm should get law like dominican.It illegal to over stay in a mans country, give him a fine for gainful employment.don’t send him away, his country is still in disaster,sxm don’t deport no haitain now. god is not in your heart, so sad. there are raid going on in sxm, if dominicans have to appear before the prosicuter to be sentence, with their name fully spelt. like serail killer. it makes no sense your are cold hearted. you all people have nothing to do in Dominica but court, court,court. check you all news paper is all about carry to court. is there love in this island?

    • Anonymous
      January 7, 2012

      Did you people read the article? The article stated that the guy was NOT DEPORTED…. he is to leave the country and can return anytime he wishes. By doing so he gets back in status. Since he was the owner on a Barbershop he should have money to purchase a ticket to his country and return to Dominica.

    • Justice and Truth
      January 12, 2012

      birdy_1964

      Canada provides at least, basic language education and computer training to those who migrate here and also for refugees who lack same.
      If DA government welcomes Haitians who are not able to speak English, then it should set up a language school for them, giving them an opportunity to learn to speak and write English and also computer training (if only the language) so that they could assimilate in DA society and obtain gainful employment. This is something the DA government should consider.
      When I migrated to Canada, I commenced taking French lessons which was offered by the government at the expense of the government or shall I say taxpayers’ money, even though I was employed. Those who migrated in recent years receive even more than was available when I migrated to Canada.
      I took administrative courses at a Business College which I personally paid for. Thinking of this it may have been available free or for a decreased cost. At that time I did not give it a thought. When I graduated, the reputable employer I worked for reimbursed me a certain portion of my tuition fee. How about that? I was told I hope you do not leave us. :) After a few years I did and went on to greener pastures. :) Opportunities are always there for us to embrace no matter where we reside.
      Those who are unemployed qualify for government subsidy to either further their education or take a refresher course or some other course of their choice.
      DA government will have to do more for immigrants who are not able to speak English even though by subsidizing their studies. It can be done. I expect in time this will be done.

  21. grandbarian
    January 6, 2012

    at anonymous before u got married to the american would you have liked ur illegal dominican ass sent back to dominican thats y u got married to a us citizen to better ur self and help ur family ……. he was not a menace to the community but a loving and well respectful person and it had to be someonr who had a grudge against this man who did it he leaves in the village well known and during a patrol they stopped him and realized his accent different give me a break sergeant and the other officers who were there

    • Justice and Truth
      January 12, 2012

      @grandbarian

      Some of them marry in order to get landed status.

  22. JFK
    January 6, 2012

    Sometimes common sense have to take over when deciding someones fate. The guy is contributing to Dominica in a positive so sending him back to Haiti with his 3 year child should have played a part in the court final determination. Sometimes as human we have the right to do things but it’s not always the right thing to do.

    • Papa Way
      January 6, 2012

      So, a bad man dig-out your eye and you give him the other one??? In what language would you understand WRONG actually meaning WRONG?!?

  23. Papa Way
    January 6, 2012

    VERY WELL DONE TO DOMINICA’s JUSTICE SYSTEM

    It’s about time we stopped dishing-out fines and got TOUGH – although this was more of a ‘tough-love’ kind of thing. I would have drop-kicked his Voodoo-plagued Haitian ass into the sea off Fond Colé… Nah, only kidding. BUT it’s a good move anyway and in-line with most other countries. ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL and if you operate within the law of the land there should be nothing to fear. This bloke lied and got exactly what her deserved!

    WELL DONE..

  24. Sout Man
    January 6, 2012

    That case is indeed exceptional. Another Grand Bay yout’ has to grow up with a single parent. Another Haitian has to go through useless expenditure of airfare,etc only to”be allowed to return at any time”. Why wasn’t he asked to pay a fine and put on probation. If he violates the terms of his probation, like engaging in criminal activity, then he can be deported.

    In the spirit of the highly anticipated free movement of CARICOM nationals, we should cut this guy some slack, given all what Haiti has gone through recently. Let’s not split families like the Unites States, which, unfortunately, deported a 14 year old Texas girl to Colombia, mistaking her for a 22 year old illegal Colombian wanted by US Immigration. Ang her parents are asked to pay for her airfare after she was arrested in her Texas hometown and sent to a foreign land by homeland Security (which controls immigration). Bureaucracy at its best!!

    • Josette
      January 6, 2012

      Sout Man U always deep, your trend o thought is killer.

    • Justice and Truth
      January 7, 2012

      @ Sout Man

      I do agree that he could have been fined and allowed to stay. For compassionate reasons, it is unfair that he should be sent back and to where? Certainly not Haiti under its circumstances.
      As for the U.S. girl who was sent to Colombia, I read about it on MSN.ca. She is a truant teenager who ran away from home. When she was arrested for stealing she gave the Police a wrong name which probably belongs to someone else from Colombia. Throughout the case she never relented and answered to the false name. This is why this faux pas occurred. They assumed that she was from Colombia even though she did not speak the language. I also read that she is pregnant. I do think that the U.S. government should be compassionate and pay her airfare back to the U.S. After all, it is not the fault of her parents. The Police did not do their homework. I do think that they were negligent. They should have known better and questioned her further. All they had to do was to at least place her picture through the Media, TV and Newspapers and I am certain that her parents or anyone who knew her would have come forth to identify her.

  25. January 6, 2012

    Very often we complain that our judicial system has failed; I agree that it has failed in many different ways.

    Nonetheless, I believe there are times when the judiciary should not simply look the other way; I believe it should be sympathetic to some people who may have trivially step on the law.

    It is an offence when someone violates the immigration laws of any country; however, if we treat the immigrants in our country who has broken the immigration rules harshly, we should not complain when our people are dealt with in the same way in a foreign country!

    In the State of New Jersey, more than seventy-five (75%) percent of all the Dominicans I know residing there came to the United States, on a visitor visa which has long expired.

    They never returned, I know a guy from Wesley in New York, been there fore more than thirty years, and this guy does not have even a green card; he is almost an old man, should the State of New York deport him?

    They all have manage to sustain themselves by finding employment in which they labor without a social security number, or any work permit.

    The Federal Government is aware of the millions of illegal aliens, which includes Dominicans, and simply leave them alone, as long as they are gainfully employed and are not dependent on the welfare system for survival.

    And mind you some of them finds ways and means to penetrate the system and collect welfare!

    In general the social Security system benefits from the immigrant worker because some of those people work on borrowed social security numbers, to which they contribute deductions from their pay, which they can never get any benefit.

    That remains unclaimed from the social security system, and is forfeited!

    The fact is as long as they are productive, they are left alone.

    The same thing apply’s to Canada there are so many illegal Dominicans in Canada, it is not funny.

    These people live and work without hindrance, so why can’t an harmless Haitian be simply allowed to remain in the Dominica, and work, as long as he is productive the nation shall be the benefactor.

    The man seem to be productive, if in less than six months, he is ambitious enough to cut hair for his survival, he is the person we want to be illegal in our country, because sooner or latter from the few pennies he makes from barbering he may think of something more creative to do, perhaps he may invest in a house, and the money he would have made would remain in Dominica.

    We have forgotten that when Dominicans backed away from Agriculture, and the hard work, we went to Haiti and imported Haitian to work on our Agricultural Plantations.

    Had it not been for the Haitians, I know for a fact, there would not be a single banana plant left in my village of Wesley!

    We need to leave the foreigners who seek refuge in our country alone, foreigners for some unknown reason builds the country which they adapt as home. The United States, Canada, and Britain has proved that.

    Left to the indigenous alone, America would not be the America it is today. The people who made America what it is are the people who immigrated here, even the slaves from Africa who were brought here!

    A review of Canada, will prove the same, most of us old enough remember a depression which struck Canada, and because Caribbean people imported so much of Canadian Salt Fish which we still do, Canada survived the depression.

    As a result in the 1960’s when Canadian citizens complained about West Indians flooding their country, and filing for Landed Immigrants status and taking their jobs in the process, they were advised by the then Prime Minister of Canada, to ” let them alone,” and went on to explain, had it not been for ” them” buying our Salt Fish, which they eat with their Breadfruit, Canada would have been worst off.

    Whereas he mentioned Breadfruits; I know he had Dominicans, and St. Lucian’s in mind!

    He was talking about Dominica, and our people:

    A review of the West Indian migration to England in the late 1950’s we will find a similar situation; where West Indians changed the face of England, I will not get into the details, nonetheless it is sufficient to say our immigration officials need to leave these people alone, because if the Antiguan’s were to decide at this moment to deport, or ask all the illegal Dominicans to leave Antigua, I do not know what would happen.

    If all the other islands from Jamaica, in the North, to Guyana in the South were to order our people out of their country, I am sure the powers that be in Dominica would not appreciate that at all!

    We need to be careful; what goes around, comes around!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • shy
      January 6, 2012

      Too long.

    • Anonymous
      January 7, 2012

      Why is it everything that happens in Dominica has to be compared to the United States? This gets on my last nerves. Dominica is Dominica and The United States is the United States. If the United States does not want to exercise its law then that is it. Dominica is only exercising its law. And as intelligent as you are if you had only read the article you would see where it said the man was not deported. If it was in the United States he was held like that trust me he would be deported, and not even have the chance to return, but this Haitian does get the opportunity to come back to Dominica at anytime.

      • Justice and Truth
        January 12, 2012

        @ Anonymous

        You state that the man was not deported. Then why send him away and to where? Can you fill us in on this one?

    • Dents chien
      January 8, 2012

      Well all those Dominicans that go with one trend of thought to study then decide to stay they should deport their backside since some of them leave student loans on their families and bring sanctions on others who wish to genuinely go study and return home. If you wish to go anywhere you should by all means do it right and not go and overstay. But I think its time we in Dominica need to send a message that DA is not a free port for all to come and just take over. Undocumented – that in itself is a big problem

    • Justice and Truth
      January 12, 2012

      @ Francisco:

      You state that as long as they are productive they are left alone. I would also state, as long as they are not caught. The U.S. as Canada is stricter today than in previous years. The reason being, too many people abused the system. What is worst some of them are not employed and are a financial burden on the government and at the expense of taxpayers.
      Canada is in the process of revoking approximately 1600 or more people from 100 countries who obtained citizenship under false pretext. Some of them do not reside in Canada and visit here occasionally and when they are in need of medical assistance. What a strain on the medical system while they do not pay income tax because they do not reside here. The government has realized that it also costs the taxpayers an exorbitant sum of money.
      This also includes those who never contributed to the revenue of the country and who receive a provincial pension and supplementary income including subsidized housing and medical care. I am informing you that hardworking Canadians are upset about that, no doubt as the Americans are.
      Consider the amount of refugees who came to Canada in recent years and the government is responsible for them financially until they obtain employment. Some of them have not obtained employment and rank among senior citizens. This also applies to the U.S.
      I believe in time to come it will be even more difficult to obtain resident status in this country and the U.S.
      As for those as the man who has been residing in the U.S.A. for a long time, when he dies and if it is in the U.S.A. the government will surely know.
      Some of them have assumed fictitious names and got such passports. I would not want to be in their position.
      From time to time, the government grants amnesty to those who reside illegally in the U.S. If they have lived within the Law they will obtain same. Why did he not try to obtain it? Canada grants it also, from time to time.
      The U.S. has the problem of Mexican migrants. You have no doubt seen on TV how they enter the U.S. including those drug cartels, by constructing tunnels to the U.S. What will some people not do to enter the U.S. and Canada of all?
      You state that there are many Dominicans in Canada who are illegal. I reside in Canada and I do not know of any.
      Years ago migration was easy. People in the Caribbean migrated to other islands and the U.S. as Florida, etc. Some of them migrated to Haiti, Santo Domingo and Cuba. We may very well have relatives in the latter three countries or at least their descendants.
      This is why we should be compassionate as in the case of the Haitian man. I do believe that the Dominican justice was not fair to him and failed him.

  26. Global village
    January 5, 2012

    In this day and time where Caricom is placing much more emphasis on the brotherhood of Caribbean islands and focusing on strengthening the ties between each member state it is sad that a Magistrate with the power of discretion in this matter would feel that the best course of action would be not to deport a man but to burden the state financially in “sending” him back to an impoverished state. A state which just recently our heads of the region were focusing on . The fact that he was here during a time of amnesty, and this was proven, had it not been for fear he would have otherwise been legalized should have been a strong consideration taken by the Magistrate. What is the benefit to he child whom he has to support .Migrant children are considered in law/decisions are they are very vulnerable in these situations. I guess without a father the Magistrate should not be surprised if she is visited by him one day . The man was giving back to society and providing a service . At least a time limit in which to make right right ‘the wrong that is wrong’ should have been considered. We must approach these matters very carefully and delicately , especially as society have already branded Haitians and attached its stigma . We are all foreigners who came from one place or another . History and Karma has a strange way of revisiting us , in surprising ways. Jah guide!!

  27. way out there
    January 5, 2012

    I think the court could have handled it differently. The guy is a positive addition to our society, his business is paying taxes, he has a child to support and is not a troublemaker. Considering the situation the court could have ordered him to pay a fine for his over-stay and hold him until his paperwork was processed immediately.

  28. January 5, 2012

    well if he is free to come back to Dominica, y not give him time to regularized his self in Dominica.

    • DOMINICAN
      January 7, 2012

      THIS IS SIMPLE COMMON SENSE.WHERE IS THE SO CALLED MERCY COMMITTEE?

  29. shy
    January 5, 2012

    When all you not leaving overseas don’t talk.When emigration passing everyone they catch without papers gone, you could have ten kids.For us to get a passport we have to wait an eternity and still not get it.In dominica you could reach today and get a passport today, those haitians i mean.In st maarten when they hold you ,they put you in a cell and unless someone don’t bring a ticket for you ,that’s where you staying.Then after six months they will send you home .What all you know, the haitian even lucky ,they even pleading his case.

  30. Justice and Truth
    January 5, 2012

    I do think that the magistrate should allow him to stay.
    Recall in 2012 that a Mexican woman who had overstayed her visit, had a baby and was allowed to stay in Dominica. Does Dominica have a two-tier system? Are the magistrates practicing discrimination?
    Magistrate George, if it is not too late for this man, i.e., if he has not yet left Dominica, I do think you should re-consider this Haitian man’s case on compassionate grounds and allow him to stay. God will bless you for that. Keep this in mind.

    • Justice and Truth
      January 7, 2012

      :oops: I meant 2011.

  31. me
    January 5, 2012

    i’m all about helpin ppl but the haitian have gone to far, job well done because of haitians visa restritions every where b, they use d’a as a freeport to enter then leave illegally to countries like guadeloupe , usvi among others then is dominica along with dominicans who gat the bad name ; the reason why they a really enforcing the law to haitian is because of how they us our country as a passport to enter in other countries ………………..!

    • Justice and Truth
      January 7, 2012

      @ me

      Every country has that problem. Last year a boatload of Sri Lankans, 500 of them landed in British Columbia, Canada. When they arrive it is the responsibility of the government to feed and house them. I can tell you Canadians were not happy about that. Some of them may be terrorists as well.
      In former years others from that country and others from the Middle East came here by planeloads. Some of them would go to the U.S. and come to Canada because they heard that it is easy to get into Canada. Some of them applied for refugee status. The stories are many. The government has clamped down on this. There are now many changes in the Immigration system which obviously displeases some people and please others. Due to all this it is not so easy to obtain a landed stay in Canada. They have spoilt it for others. The stories are many.
      There are non-profit organizations, funded by the government and private enterprises that pay to teach them English. In Montreal, it will be French. The stories are many.
      Pertaining to Haitians, keep in mind of the disasters which struck Haiti. Haiti is still in a pathetic situation. I do think that the magistrate should have allowed him to stay. Dominicans should be apathetic towards him. He has a child, born in Dominica. This should be grounds to allow him to stay. If the DA government/ magistrate could do this for the Mexican woman who was probably unemployed then and who knows still is, they could very well do it for this Haitian man.

      • Justice and Truth
        January 7, 2012

        :oops: Last sentence “should not be apathetic” towards him, those of you who are.

    • Anonymous
      January 7, 2012

      SOOO TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

    • DOMINICAN
      January 7, 2012

      DOMINICANS DO THE SAME ALL OVER. HOWEVER NOT ALL DOMINICANS DO IT SO TOO NOT ALL AHTIAN DO IT. THIS GUY PAYS A WOMAN IN GRAND BAY TO WASH FOR HIM ? SHE HAS CHILDREN TO FEED, HE PAYS BILLS AND RENT. HE IS AN EXCEPTION AND I BELIEVE IN SUCH CASES THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE AN INPUT.

  32. Lover
    January 5, 2012

    Things must be done properly and within the law. What don’t you all get about that?

  33. D/CAN IN NYC
    January 5, 2012

    BOY AM IN THE USA UNDOCUMENTED FOR YRS BUT IS WORKING AND LUCKY AND BLESSED TO BE DOING B IT. I FEEL SORRY FOR THE GUY AND I THINK THE JUDGE IS HEARTLESS..I KNOW HE BREAK THE LAW BY OVERSTAYING BUT BECAUSE HE IS WORKING TO MAKE A LIVING.HE IS NOT DOING LIKE THOSE BUMBS AND THUGS THAT SO LAZY,BORN IN DOMINICA AND RATHER TO STEAL AND ROB INSTEAD OF FINDING WORK TO DO. BY THE WAY I AM PREPARED IF EVER I AM SENT HOME,BUT FOR NOW AM DOING THE RIGHT THING AND SEND THE $$$S TO DOMINICA. PLUS WATCH THE SITUATION IN HAITI..I REMEMBER LEAVING DOMINICA AFTER HURRICANE DAVID TO ANTIGUA..I WAS SENT BACK HOME AND TOLD BY IMMIGRATION OFFICER,TO GO BACK AND BUILD MY COUNTRY,THEY ONLY WANT WOMAN AND NOT MAN IN ANTIGUA…WE ARE NOT OUR BROTHERS KEEPER AT ALL IN DIFFICULT TIMES

  34. poonkss
    January 5, 2012

    It’s only in Dominica I see illegals that are so free and rampant.
    The immigration tasks force should conduct monthly raids to make these people understand the law is just that “the law”.
    I lived in St.Maarten for 18 years and they don’t play.
    The amount of Dominicans that are harassed constantly in foreign caribbean islands, it’s ridiculous. These hatian and dominicanos get away with too much down here, please.

    • Dominican Abroad
      January 6, 2012

      Then you need to visit the states cause it’s NOT only in Dominica illegals are free and rampant. I agree with those who believe he should be paid a fine and allowed to stay. At least he is not robbing business places in Roseau and environ.

  35. OK BOY
    January 5, 2012

    He had several opportunities. He had amnesty. He has a business with a license. He could apply for extension of stay. He could apply for work permit. He was afraid? You have a business in Grandbay and you afraid to go get a work permit? Wow!! Why he did not ask the other Haitians how to do it? Some of these people are just defiant and think they can do what they want in people country.

  36. Evolved
    January 5, 2012

    we wish to be so hard on Caribbean nationals trying to make an honest living but we give laise passe to all the terrorists that apply for economic citizenship – due process – so lacking in Dominica.

    Was this man a menace to society – NO! He provided a service and made a living to feed his family. Should be be fined, definitely for ignoring the law – but to order him out – to me is excessive – make examples of those who can be noticed –

  37. ALAS
    January 5, 2012

    I dont believe this…sooo much dominican who living illegally in antigua, st. maarten, america and all over..WITHOUT A CHILD OR CHILDREN…this is madness I hope the law dont have mercy on all the others people who selling passport and doing borborl in the country…I hope he comes back to take care of his child…WE WELCOME YOU BACK…maybe if you were in Haiti the earthquarke would have killed you too.

    • magwae sa
      January 5, 2012

      while they treating haitians like dirty them chinese doing t=what they want in Dominica. Haitian black like us too, remember!!!

    • True
      January 6, 2012

      Yes they are living der… but they haven’t been caught yet… and when they do.. i’m sure they will be treated the same way as the haitian… Stop looking for excuses and things to justify something…. Like the lady said… What’s wrong is Wrong what’s right is Right.

      We Can have Ten thousand Domincans in other places but what’s wrong is wrong what’s right is right… these Dominicans when they get caught the state or who ever will deal with these people appropriately

  38. January 5, 2012

    I hope you send french and venizwelan people back. haisians are our brothers

    • shop rite
      January 5, 2012

      How comes is only dominica that is haiti brother what about the other well to do carribean countries? Dominica already has to many haitians for it size and economy. They are pushing tradditional vendors out of the local markets in thier own homeland

      Unlike the oecs countries haiti has many differences from us in terms of culture, heritage and tradition.

      Any country which does not respect it borders is doomed for failure. If your really know what these haitians are doing in dominica you will say otherwise. they are abusing the generousity and meekness of the people.

    • Justice and Truth
      January 5, 2012

      @ Mr. Gouty

      Very well stated! We must stand up and speak out for what is right to do. He should be allowed to stay.

  39. am just saying
    January 5, 2012

    well now the other person with the barber shop in grandbay is happy now but he better not mess with haitians.

    • maxtron
      January 5, 2012

      In reality they do deport dominicans. lennox linton was thronw out of antigua recently. furthermore all the oecs was once one under the british and use to share resources like prisons and police. so you cannot compare that to haiti which stands the risks of taking over dominica in 5 more years. thier are close to 7000 haitians in dominica presently

      • magwae sa
        January 5, 2012

        and 10000 chinese and 1000 chinese shop selling rubbish for us and they not paying custom duty, VAT and income tax… and hiding under the clouds of the MOU… :?:

    • shy
      January 5, 2012

      Haitians is not god .You all are afraid of them, that’s why you all leting them do what they want in dominica.

    • me
      January 6, 2012

      I think some of you should just shut your traps, the man had all opportunities to become llegal and he did not. Have you questioned his wife……..hummmmm, more questions than answers.

  40. Marcel
    January 5, 2012

    So what if Antigua, America, Guadeloupe, St.Marteen, St.croix and St.Thomas start visiting the construction sites, barber shops, homes (for the domestics) and start deporting all illegal Dominicans? Where we going to get place to put all these people?

    • L. Waldron
      January 5, 2012

      nonsense!!! illegal Dominican are deported all the time.

      • shy
        January 6, 2012

        Amen!

    • yout
      January 5, 2012

      about 160,000 ppl

    • Anonymous
      January 7, 2012

      In Dominica, where they are from…daa? 8-O

  41. Homeboy
    January 5, 2012

    Yow that is discrimination at the highest level. They ” Upon noticing his accent, asked the defendant about his Nationality”.

    Who for the pow pow to ask questions they are not asking. In a case such as this where the individuals is making a contribution to society deportation is not the answer.

  42. Think About It
    January 5, 2012

    What if on entering the USA, Canada, London etc immigration ask us what disgusting accent is that and we say Dominican not the Republic of Dominica but just plain little Dominica with a Capital Roseau what in the hell would we do? Think, we all would cry bloody racism.This guy had a job he was a law abiding citizen shame on the judge.

  43. anonymous2
    January 5, 2012

    We need more hard working Haitians here.

    • me
      January 6, 2012

      are you serious…..we have about 28% unemployment here and that is what you’re saying……..good for you, good for you.

  44. Dominican In T.O
    January 5, 2012

    Get rid of all haitians ASAP.

    • DOMINICAN
      January 7, 2012

      HATIANS WERE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF god JUST LIKE DOMINICANS. HOPE YOU CAN SAY THAT FOR ALL DOMINICANS OUTSIDE OF DOMINICA.YOU ARE SO INHUMANE.

      • Dominican in T.O
        January 10, 2012

        Please…Dominicans are no where near as evil as haitians.

  45. Pierre cuts my hair
    January 5, 2012

    Pierre is a guy… He cuts hair in Grand Bay and is a good neighbor… Helping for Pierre is like helping a dominican in Quadeloupe, Martinque, St.Thomas and countless countries in the world where Dominicans live freely . In addition Hati is right here in the Carribbean..

  46. T. Winston
    January 5, 2012

    If he’s been here for 5 years and his child is 3 years old then his child is a Dominican and the father shouldn’t be separated from his child. Just my opinion. The man has a legally registered business and is contributing to the economy so he’s not a hooligan or a ragamuffin. I say give him a break. If I was somewhere else and this was my situation I know I would certainly want one

    • January 5, 2012

      using the term ‘raggamuffin’ is discriminatory to those who dress in such style… a raggamuffin is simply one who has an alternative style of dressing such as baggy clothes and dreadlocks etc etc… if i’m not mistaken… so does that mean a raggamuffin is a bad and non-positive individual lol… i think it’s the ‘name’ that have us thinkin so….

      • Justice and Truth
        January 5, 2012

        @ mouth of the south

        Not always. It may depend on the person’s mannerism. We tend to discriminate against people who dress differently than some of us and sadly so.

    • Justice and Truth
      January 5, 2012

      @ T. Winston

      I wholeheartedly agree with you. Why send him away? It is like deporting him. He resided in DA for 5 years, is an exemplary resident who owns a business and he is father of a young child, born in DA. If he tries to return will he be accepted in DA in the future? Where is the magistrate’s compassion? Lecture him and allow him to stay.

  47. Anonymous
    January 5, 2012

    This message is for anonymous ,the dominicans that are in forienge countries illegaly when they are court they are sent back, the reason they are still there is be cus they operate under the radar but once they are identify they are sent home back, to D.A. so we should do the same to all foriengn nationals who over stay in D.A. , I NOTICE YOU POST A LOT OF COMMENTS WITH OUT THINKING [ SO HOOSE YOU MOUTH AND SENT THOS FORIENGNERS BACK TO THERE HOME LAND,

  48. da lover
    January 5, 2012

    I am for respecting the law but we have to try and help people that are less fortunate. I feel bad for his 3 year and they dominican court system would reconsider.

    • Justice and Truth
      January 5, 2012

      @ da lover

      You should arrange a rally in his honor and request the magistrate to reconsider her decision.

    • True
      January 6, 2012

      no matter how much u want to help you still have to do it right! two wrongs can make no right!

      These people need help they do….but if they need help they have to seek and find help the right way!

      there is no buts… the law is the LAW otherwise everyone would want expections

      • DOMINICAN
        January 7, 2012

        so tell me why the same system turn the decisions of tani behanzin? the guy who was shot dead in possi is an example . poeple for the sysytem to have mercy on are the ones the system destroying. let pierre stay in dca.

  49. anon
    January 5, 2012

    Yeah, and we get deported when they catch us too….That’s how it is man!

    • January 5, 2012

      They need to deport all those Haitians back to the country to help rebuild their nation, i guarantee that many of them in DA are those who were in jail, all the Haitian most wanted are in DA, safe heaven

      • vandy
        January 6, 2012

        u sound like one of them!

      • DOMINICAN
        January 7, 2012

        HOW ABOUT THE DOMINICANS WHO RUN AWAY FROM THEIR CRIMES AND GO TO GWADA AND OTHER COUNTRIES? YOU NEED TO COME DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE LOCAL MAN IN GRAND BAY.

  50. Anonymous
    January 5, 2012

    Dominican immigration officers need to follow up on those foriengners who violate the immigration law, i am a dominican who married to an american we were in D.A. for vacation and they gave here three weeks to stay on the island, ,my wifE ..Cant they round up the hatiens , after they over stay, and send them home they do it in the V.I, AND in the B.VI. and in the bahamas, why cant we do it in D.A. WE ARE A SMALL ISLAND WE CAN ONLY HELP SO FEW,our resource will deplete not so many fish, not so many tetewee, manicu,and crapo is gone. howe many forienger can we accept ? Dominica we are not the U.S.A. you cannot accept, all the tired the poor the weak, your down trowden your tired, meek , your thieves, ecxtra to dominica, soon we will be worse than haite. LET US STOP THE NONSENSE, AND SEND ALL THE ILLEGALS BACK TO THERE HOME COUNTRY.

  51. chance
    January 5, 2012

    It have plenty more like him; i loovvee mr weeks, thats a police dat doing his work. right is right and wrong is wrong; those haitians know how to respect santo domingo laws because they will get killed, they know how to respect haitian laws but when they come here,they want to run our country for us; they use making children as an excuse not to be deported and they LIE, Mrs George, well done! good work! those police should go possie and salisbury, especially at the portsmouth market on fridays and saturdays,they will meet countless of them without status

  52. Anonymous
    January 5, 2012

    Do you know how many Dominican that have over started all over the world? Look at Haiti and give the man a break. I thought Dominica was a Christian country.

    • January 5, 2012

      Shut your behind regardless of the devastation of Haiti, Haiti is far more developed than Dominica, they are a bunch of tricky people, the Americans ran after them cause of their bad doing, Dominicans should do the same

      They do not save their monies in Bank, keep feeling pity for them and you people will find out, as a matter of fact it is already happening, they are taking over you people market, soon they will own all the properties in your island and more, they know how to use the systems wherever they land

      • Anonymous
        January 6, 2012

        I agree totally.

    • maxtron
      January 5, 2012

      since when protecting your borders and keeping the law a bad thing? You guys are very irresponsible with immigration.
      So if a dominican kills in america, does that give haitians or any foreigner the right to come here and do the same.

      you guys debate like real small islanders. You will never find a bajan or lucian undermining thier border security like dominica. then you wonder why dominica is they only one getting closer to the economic status of haiti.

      • True
        January 6, 2012

        Thank you! I can’t understand these people… breaking the law is breaking the LAW… not because is haitian we have to is these people up…

        They need help they want help and we are happy to help them but that’s not the way.

    • Justice and Truth
      January 5, 2012

      @ Anonymous

      Do I ever agree with you this time. :) The situation of Haiti has not yet improved, not even half way. God knows when it will be. I am emphatically stating that this man should be allowed to stay. The man is making a living. All she had to do was to lecture him, caution him and allow him to go through the process of seeking landed status. She should never have ordered him to leave Dominica. This is not right and it is not fair. Where is he going to when he leaves Dominica? Magistrate George appears to have no compassion and common sense whatsoever. For the love of God and also his child she should have allowed him to stay.

    • Informant
      January 6, 2012

      While I feel it especially for his son, the laws of the land must be upheld. Not because there are many illegal Dominicans overseas that we must allows our laws to be ignored.

  53. January 5, 2012

    he was not deported and is free to return hhmmmm….. only if the u.s.a and canada was just as forgiving lol… they should if he isn’t deported then what do we call this… they might as well keep the man on the land… so much of our people in the diaspora living without proper documents… let’s not discriminate against our brothrens…. one thing them dominican woman like them haitians eh…..

    • chance
      January 5, 2012

      good for you

      • eve
        January 5, 2012

        this is just NOT fair! i will not say anymore!

    • January 5, 2012

      Before Michaelle Jean live office they were living the USA by the hundreds running to Canada claiming Refugee status, and also after the disaster, however this is no longer, they are no wanted in Canada because of their evil doing

      I reside in Montreal, many of them fleeing form the other provinces heading to Montreal because they claim the speak French which is not so, what they were doing is scamming people claiming that they can help solve evil problems and charging hefty fee, they always blame people’s neighbours, they caught on Haitian man killing a squirrel and spreading the blood all around one person they claim to be working for, the bastard was beaten and flee no one knows where he is at, many of them are deported from Canada, because they entered the country under false pretence, Dominicans believe in evil and destroying people’s life, they are blind, since these people arrived in DA, they put a curse on the island and it’s people
      many of them cannot return to Haiti because those who are stronger than them is waiting for them

      • Justice and Truth
        January 7, 2012

        @ Brenda

        Careful what you say. You are generalizing. I am certain there are good Haitians just as there are good Dominicans in Canada and elsewhere. Countries have all types of people. Every country has that problem.
        Canada has thousands of West Indians from every island. Some of them are plying this voodoo and fortune-telling in Toronto, taking hundreds of dollars, saying that they can help them with every sort of problem, from the gullible and vulnerable who visit them. They advertise in the ethnic Newspapers. I have heard stories about them from people who visited them. I personally do not want to see or meet those if I can help it.
        Canada also has people from the Middle East. Some may be good and some are bad. Remember 911? A few of them, terrorists, resided in Canada and were Canadian citizens.
        Furthermore, those who lambaste the Haitians I hope they are exemplary nationals, free of blemish – overall nice people.

    • Anonymous
      January 5, 2012

      Dominica does not have MEN anymore, but a bunch of LOOZERS and dead beats. So if a Haitian can fill the void, then, Why Not?

    • Justice and Truth
      January 5, 2012

      @ mouth of the south

      They speak a patois, not so? :lol: They have something in common with the French. Dominica was previously a French island. It is very evident that we have not lost our French identity. We identify with those who are French; no exception the Haitians. This is why some of them came to Dominica. They have something in common with Dominicans. Generally, French people are friendly.
      I recall those days when people from Gaudeloupe and Martinique would visit also for a weekend. There were times we would be at the Aquatic Club. My memory of the men is that they were extremely nice people and respectable. They love the Dominican girls and they love to dance and were good dancers too. We would speak patois. My patois is not perfect but I understood them and they could understand me and my friends. I bet you may still have been a baby or were you born yet. :lol:
      Give the Haitians a break. Unless if you are a man you are jealous of him with the lady(ies). :)
      This man should be allowed to stay. After all he has not committed a crime; is not a criminal. He must be a good man, is hard working and will make a good Dominican citizen. Someone must be jealous of him and his success in business.

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