12 Haitians fined for attempted illegal exit; Dominican pleads not guilty to human trafficking

The boat which the police intercepted on September 18, 2021

A $2,500.00 fine has been imposed on 12 Haitians who attempted to leave the country illegally on September 18, 2021, while a Grand Bay man who was aboard the vessel pleaded not guilty to human trafficking.

The 13 individuals who were captured at sea in the south of the island appeared before Chief Magistrate Candia Carrette-George, virtually, on September 24, 2021.

The charge  laid against the immigrants by the police stated that on September 18, at Pointe Mitchel, Jean Max Providence, Nelson Jean Louis, Peterson Prevert, Terveneau Esteve, Alex Joanis, Endove Lebrun, Benita Bernard, Sherlanda Thelemacque, JacksonThelemaque, Syrianel Merant, Jean Michel Fieph and Dieussone Cadet did attempt to leave Dominica illegally on the aforementioned date which they all pleaded guilty to.

Curtis Henderson of Grand Bay was charged for attempted unlawful immigration of the Haitians to the French Territory of Martinique. He pleaded not guilty and was bailed in the sum of $10,000.00 to appear in court at a later date for trial.

According to the facts of the case, on September 18,  at 1:00 a.m., the Commonwealth of Dominica Coast Guard received “certain information and proceeded via a coast guard vessel on sea to the south of the island. About a quarter mile off the Soufriere area they  intercepted an open keel vessel named Stand Firm registration number J7162NTN and powered by two 85 horsepower engines.”

The facts of the case further revealed that there were 14 occupants on the vessel at the time but  the boat captain jumped overboard and escaped, leaving the other occupants on board. A search was conducted for him but he was not found.

The remaining 13 people included one woman, one child, and 11 male adults. A search of the vessel revealed a quantity of cannabis which was seized as part of the investigation.

During the police investigation, the Haitians informed the officers that they were on their  way to Martinque at the time of the interception. It was confirmed at the immigration office that all the non nationals  had entered Dominica through an approved port of entry at an earlier date but for their attempt to leave illegally, the charge was brought against them.

At the court hearing, attorney-at-law Wayne Norde, who represented 11 of the 12 Haitians, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy stating that the non nationals  attempted to leave the country in search of a better life for themselves and their families.

He further argued that they all pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, not wasting the court’s time.

The maximum penalty for the offense is $5,000 or one year but after consideration, presiding Magistrate Carrette-George imposed a forthwith fine of $2,500, in default, six months in prison.

Four of the Haitians were able to pay their fine and were therefore released while the others were incarcerated.

The court did not make any application for their removal as Norde had made submissions at other hearings declaring that since the Haitians are members of CARICOM, they cannot be deemed prohibited immigrants to be removed pursuant to the immigration act.

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11 Comments

  1. Anson Pantz
    September 27, 2021

    US$919.18 is a cheap price to be permitted to leave Dominica.

  2. Ibo France
    September 27, 2021

    I would forever chartise the regular media for collusion with the corrupt, incumbent autocracy.

    So many illegalities are being committed with impunity by this uncaring administration. Unbelievably, the media houses give the regime a free pass. There is not even one word of condemnation from them.

    Imagine this. Some of these journalists get invited to Mr. Skerrit’s Sunday evening show and go there to ask him lollipop questions instead of holding his feet to the fire.

    I’ve said this numerous times. The news media and their reporters have enormous social influence. In a country where there is an active and vibrant PRESS, DEMOCRACY flourishes.

    Instead of blaming the main opposition party and its leader for the sorry state of affairs in Dominica, direct the blame at the irredeemable and corrupt liar that illegally occupies the office of the prime minister; the media and the passive, pliable populace.

  3. Mark
    September 27, 2021

    You cannot justify an illegal act by referencing another illegal act. Wrong is wrong and it should be deemed so. I’ve been singing the same song at every opportunity I get. Support for illegal acts send mixed messages therefore we should always be mindful in what we say and the advice we give.
    Everyone knows that money has its advantages when dealing with the criminal justice system so let’s not play dumb in that regard.
    The poor man is always at a disadvantage in any country so don’t expect anything different in Dominica. Sorry to report “it is what it is”.
    Nobody said life was fair.

  4. Badbaje
    September 26, 2021

    Are the authorities investigating as to who is the boat owner, the registered owner, the captain? Or is this “it?”

  5. Truth Be Told
    September 26, 2021

    “At the court hearing, attorney-at-law Wayne Norde, who represented 11 of the 12 Haitians, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy stating that the non nationals attempted to leave the country in search of a better life for themselves and their families.”
    Even Haitians cannot take it in Skerrit’s Labour Party Dominica! Dominicans you all not ashamed? Not even Haitians want to stay in hard up Dominica! Attorney-at-law Wayne Norde are you capable of being ashamed of yourself and Skerrit’s Labour Party government destroying our once beautiful island and lovely people? Just look at us now, go on take a good look!

    • September 27, 2021

      @Truth Be Told, who invited the Haitians to come to Dominica? What is your nonsense about Dominicans should be ashamed. ashamed of what? They elected the Government who is now in authority.

      When are you people going to stop writing foolishness on this comment board?

  6. Help Us Lord
    September 26, 2021

    “A search of the vessel revealed a quantity of cannabis which was seized as part of the investigation”.

    So what became of the cannabis? Why did the police not reveal the amount of cannabis found and the street value?
    Why so far no one has been changed for attempting to take cannabis to another country? Is that there way of saying in belonged to the captain that escaped? If so why was “Curtis Henderson of Grand Bay was charged for attempted unlawful immigration of the Haitians to the French Territory of Martinique” but was not charged for attempting to transport cannabis?
    Boy you see how corrupt and evil the entire judiciary of Dominica is. Lord help us in this country.
    Well when all those Haitians pay their $2500 to the corrupt system, hopefully Skerrit will get $30,000 so hopefully he will give each household $1000 as stimulus, so they can pay their light bill instead of the fig and dasheen stimulus package they giving their supporters at midnight

  7. The Unjust Judge
    September 25, 2021

    ‘The maximum penalty for the offense is $5,000 or one year but after consideration, presiding Magistrate Carrette-George imposed a forthwith fine of $2,500, in default, six months in prison.”

    Alah is my cry. Magistrate Carrette – George was raised in the pentecostal church and is today a pastors wife who pastors the church of her childhood.

    I bet Magistrate Carrette George is very familiar with the story of the four lepers and the risk they had to take just to survive during a very difficult time. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%207&version=KJV&interface=amp

    Let me remind Magistrate Carrette George of this verse in proverbs 19:17

    “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”

    Those who do the opposite will also have the opposite. I also think of the story of the Unjust Judge who feared neither God nor man

  8. Mon- fa- RED
    September 25, 2021

    Very very interesting. I think it was in May of this year Skerrit and his police charged Mehul Choksi for illegally entering Dominica. However the boat that brought Choksi here was not seized and the person or persons that brought Choksi here were not charged. But see what the did to those poor Haitians that are trying to run away from the misery of Skerrit. The wicked gang arrested them, seize the boat, they said the Captain (I guess their boy) jumped in the water at 1 AM and has not been found seen, and charged them $2500 each. Boy we too wicked and evil in this country and we will pay for our wickedness.

  9. Ibo France
    September 25, 2021

    Just a few questions and a comment.

    How is it that the male mermaid (captain) could so easily evade the coast guards in such deep waters?
    Can we get an update about the present whereabouts of the child who was taken into custody along with the adults?

    The Haitians fled their homeland to come to Dominica hoping for greener meadows but life in Dominica for them has been hard like cast iron so they had to flee this economically barren, desert territory. When a group of desperately disposessed people tries to abandon an adopted country, things have to be appallingly bad.

    Dominica is a graveyard for jobs, proper healthcare, upliftment and hope for a better future. It is a place where survivability is becoming dimmer by the day.

  10. %
    September 25, 2021

    Stop trying to play with words. Just say in simple language if Curtis George was the captain of the vessel who you all claimed jumped in the sea like a Dowad. In so doing, everyone will understand.
    The other occupants on the vessel which took Choksi here, were all high ranking people??O

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