In Magistrate’s Court #9 twenty one (21) foreign nationals were arraigned before Acting ChiefMagistrate Roberto Reckley, for various immigration offences.

On Thursday 14th September 2023, on the charge of Overstaying; three (3) Haitian nationals pledguilty and were convicted and fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at theBahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS), $1,500.00 or, in default of payment,serve two months at (BDOCS), and $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at(BDOCS), respectively. In addition to the charge of Overstaying, the later Haitian national alsopled guilty to the charge of Knowingly Attempting to Mislead an Immigration Officer and wasconvicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS),sentencing to run concurrently. One (1) Columbian national pled guilty and was convicted andfined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS).

Additionally, on the charge of Illegal Landing one (1) American and two (2) Haitian nationalspled guilty, and were convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at(BDOCS).

On Tuesday 12th September 2023, one (1) Sri Lankan resident pled not guilty to the charge ofEngaging in Gainful Occupation, and was granted $2,000.00 bail and the case adjourned to 6th November, 2023.

On the charge of Illegal Landing; seven (7) Haitian nationals pled guilty and were convicted andfined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at the (BDOCS), and one convicted andfined $300.00 and serve two months at (BDOCS) or, in default of payment, serve an additionaltwo month at (BDOCS). One (1) Cuban national pled guilty and was convicted and fined $300.00or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS).

Further, to the charge of Overstaying; one (1) Jamaican national pled guilty and was convictedand fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS). One (1) Dominicannational pled guilty and was discharged. Three (3) Haitian nationals pled guilty; two wereconvicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS) and one$1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS).

Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turnedover to the Department of Immigration for deportation.

The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing our mandate to ensurecompliance with the Statue Laws of our country.

For more information, call the Public Relations Unit at 1-242-322-7530, visit our website atwww.immigration.gov.bs, or call our Investigation hotlines (anonymously) at 1-242-604-0249,1-242-604-0171-2 or 1-242-604-0196. 

In Magistrate’s Court #9 twenty one (21) foreign nationals were arraigned before Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley, for various immigration offences. On Thursday 14th September 2023, on the charge of Overstaying; three (3) Haitian nationals pled guilty and were convicted and fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS), $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS), and $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS), respectively. In addition to the charge of Overstaying, the later Haitian national also pled guilty to the charge of Knowingly Attempting to Mislead an Immigration Officer and was convicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS), sentencing to run concurrently. One (1) Columbian national pled guilty and was convicted and fined $1,000.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS). Additionally, on the charge of Illegal Landing one (1) American and two (2) Haitian nationals pled guilty, and were convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). On Tuesday 12th September 2023, one (1) Sri Lankan resident pled not guilty to the charge of Engaging in Gainful Occupation, and was granted $2,000.00 bail and the case adjourned to 6th November, 2023. On the charge of Illegal Landing; seven (7) Haitian nationals pled guilty and were convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at the (BDOCS), and one convicted and fined $300.00 and serve two months at (BDOCS) or, in default of payment, serve an additional two month at (BDOCS). One (1) Cuban national pled guilty and was convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS). Further, to the charge of Overstaying; one (1) Jamaican national pled guilty and was convicted and fined $300.00 or, in default of payment, serve two months at (BDOCS). One (1) Dominican national pled guilty and was discharged. Three (3) Haitian nationals pled guilty; two were convicted and fined $500.00 or, in default of payment, serve one month at (BDOCS) and one $1,500.00 or, in default of payment, serve three months at (BDOCS). Upon payment of all fines and completion of sentences, all migrants were ordered to be turned over to the Department of Immigration for deportation. The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing our mandate to ensure compliance with the Statue Laws of our country. For more information, call the Public Relations Unit at 1-242-322-7530, visit our website at www.immigration.gov.bs, or call our Investigation hotlines (anonymously) at 1-242-604-0249, 1-242-604-0171-2 or 1-242-604-0196. 

THE family of Deangelo Evans burst into tears of joy after a Coroner's Court jury ruled yesterday that the 20-year-old's police-involved shooting death in 2018 was a homicide by manslaughter.

A LOCAL Rastafarian leader said the community would support an appeal of a Supreme Court judge's ruling that laws prohibiting the possession and use of marijuana do not breach their constitutional rights to freedom of religion.

Lorenzo Stubbs challenged Section 29 (6) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which prohibits drug possession, alleging the provision infringes on his right to practice his faith. #He brought the case after he was arrested in December 2021 when police found 1.6 ounces of marijuana at his home. #On Tuesday, Justice Lorein Klein rejected his application, ruling that legislators were within their right to pass a law that does not include a religious exemption for marijuana use. #Priest Jevon Thompson, chairman of the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress Bahamas Branch, located on Fire Trail Road, expressed disappointment in the ruling yesterday. #“We feel slighted,” he said. #“We feel disappointed, aggrieved, because, you know, the matter has been taking place for a while, and we’ve been putting out challenges in the past. #“And we felt that this was a good opportunity for the judge to make a ruling in our favour from the judiciary aspect, and then the legislative or the government will have to follow. #“So, the judge seems to take a backseat and allow the legislature to make the first move. So, in other words, again, it infringes on our constitutional rights. #“So, we plan to appeal and take it to the other court, because, like I say, it’s been a long time now and it’s like kicking the football round and round from left to right, up and down all around, you know, between different governments.” #Some countries have legislated religious exemptions for marijuana use. #Members of the Rastafarian community still face challenges getting their criminal records for marijuana convictions expunged. #Priest Jevon said: “I feel like we behind the eight ball, really and truly. I mean, other countries throughout the diaspora moving in this direction and we just trying and waiting, and we really don’t know why.” #In June, Attorney General Ryan Pinder said the government would release its draft cannabis bills in July. However, that did not happen.

Lorenzo Stubbs challenged Section 29 (6) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which prohibits drug possession, alleging the provision infringes on his right to practice his faith.

He brought the case after he was arrested in December 2021 when police found 1.6 ounces of marijuana at his home.

On Tuesday, Justice Lorein Klein rejected his application, ruling that legislators were within their right to pass a law that does not include a religious exemption for marijuana use.

Priest Jevon Thompson, chairman of the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress Bahamas Branch, located on Fire Trail Road, expressed disappointment in the ruling yesterday.

“We feel slighted,” he said.

“We feel disappointed, aggrieved, because, you know, the matter has been taking place for a while, and we’ve been putting out challenges in the past.

“And we felt that this was a good opportunity for the judge to make a ruling in our favour from the judiciary aspect, and then the legislative or the government will have to follow.

“So, the judge seems to take a backseat and allow the legislature to make the first move. So, in other words, again, it infringes on our constitutional rights.

“So, we plan to appeal and take it to the other court, because, like I say, it’s been a long time now and it’s like kicking the football round and round from left to right, up and down all around, you know, between different governments.”

Some countries have legislated religious exemptions for marijuana use.

Members of the Rastafarian community still face challenges getting their criminal records for marijuana convictions expunged.

Priest Jevon said: “I feel like we behind the eight ball, really and truly. I mean, other countries throughout the diaspora moving in this direction and we just trying and waiting, and we really don’t know why.”

In June, Attorney General Ryan Pinder said the government would release its draft cannabis bills in July. However, that did not happen.

 

A SUPREME Court judge rejected an application from Azario Major's family to be included as respondents to a constitutional motion seeking to overturn the Coroner's Court finding that Major's death was a homicide by manslaughter.

The judge argued that the deceased’s family had no right to be heard in the matter. #Four officers involved in Major’s death want the Coroner’s Court ruling overturned, arguing pre-trial publicity prevented a fair inquest. #The attorney general and the “Coroner of the Coroner’s Court” are the first and second respondents; the family is not a party to the proceedings. #The constitutional motion argues that a widely circulated video discussion of Major’s death unfairly prejudiced the inquest. #Facebook user “ChristianAdamG” posted the video in April, which has been viewed thousands of times. #In an affidavit, an officer called the footage “a highly inaccurate damaging narrative”. #Officers want the Coroner’s Court finding overturned, arguing the coroner “failed and/or refused to refer the constitutional application to the Supreme Court”; “has no jurisdiction or right by law to refuse any constitutional application or point raised on behalf of the applicant”; “that the “charges of homicide by way of murder, homicide by way of manslaughter and justifiable homicide are flawed”; and “that the evidence placed before the court was evidence that, if heard, and was decided upon by an impartial and independent tribunal would have been in the applicant’s favour”. #The four officers, Inspector Saunders, Sergeant Sweeting, Sergeant Johnson and Corporal Rolle, were in court yesterday, as was Fredia Major, Major’s sister. #The matter was heard before Justice Franklyn Williams. #The case was adjourned to July 4.

The judge argued that the deceased’s family had no right to be heard in the matter.

Four officers involved in Major’s death want the Coroner’s Court ruling overturned, arguing pre-trial publicity prevented a fair inquest.

The attorney general and the “Coroner of the Coroner’s Court” are the first and second respondents; the family is not a party to the proceedings.

The constitutional motion argues that a widely circulated video discussion of Major’s death unfairly prejudiced the inquest.

Facebook user “ChristianAdamG” posted the video in April, which has been viewed thousands of times.

In an affidavit, an officer called the footage “a highly inaccurate damaging narrative”.

Officers want the Coroner’s Court finding overturned, arguing the coroner “failed and/or refused to refer the constitutional application to the Supreme Court”; “has no jurisdiction or right by law to refuse any constitutional application or point raised on behalf of the applicant”; “that the “charges of homicide by way of murder, homicide by way of manslaughter and justifiable homicide are flawed”; and “that the evidence placed before the court was evidence that, if heard, and was decided upon by an impartial and independent tribunal would have been in the applicant’s favour”.

The four officers, Inspector Saunders, Sergeant Sweeting, Sergeant Johnson and Corporal Rolle, were in court yesterday, as was Fredia Major, Major’s sister.

The matter was heard before Justice Franklyn Williams.

The case was adjourned to July 4.