Four Haitian men and a female from the Dominican Republic were sentenced at the Magistrates Court last week after being found guilty of a series of immigration offences.
The Immigration Department said that three of the Haitian men were imprisoned following their conviction for offences relating to their arrival in the Turks and Caicos Islands on illegal migrant vessels. This news comes amid the rising chaotic state steadily developing in Haiti.
The Immigration Department said that Diu Jean, also known as Donald Jean Baptiste, aged twenty-seven, was sentenced to 39 months imprisonment for entering the Islands illegally and for entering in breach of a Deportation Order. Melius Pierre, aged 48, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment for entering the Islands illegally and entering in breach of a Deportation Order. John Will Charles, aged 47, was sentenced to six months imprisonment for entering the Islands illegally, and was recommended for Deportation at the end of his sentence.
Thirty-four-year-old Andy Jerlonge, a Haitian national, received a sentence of three months’ imprisonment for possession of a false certificate. Jerlonge was also recommended for deportation after his sentence has been served.
Veronica Rojas Gutiernez, a 47-year-old from the Dominican Republic, was convicted of remaining in the Islands beyond the permitted time and sentenced to a fine of $800 or, in default, 21 days imprisonment. The Immigration Department said that deportation was also recommended for Gutiernez. The fine has been paid in full and arrangements are underway to repatriate her to the Dominican Republic.
The Minister of Immigration and Border Services, Hon. Arlington Musgrove, congratulated the Immigration Department on the convictions. He said that tackling illegal migration remains a key priority and person’s risk prosecution if they try to enter illegally, use false documents to stay here illegally, or stay beyond the time they are
allowed. He added that the Immigration Taskforce officers continue to work in communities and on the road to find persons who are illegally staying in the islands who will surely face prosecution and repatriation if found.
The Immigration Department said that all five persons sentenced and deported have had their fingerprints recorded on immigration and police systems which will enable their identification if they attempt to return to the Turks and Caicos Islands, even if they attempt to change their identity.
Last week’s convictions follow the investigation into Samuel Voltare, a Haitian national convicted of entering the Islands illegally and entering in breach of a Deportation Order last month. Voltare was sentenced to 24 months in custody for each offence, to run concurrently.
The Immigration Department encourages members of the community to report what they know about illegal migration activity and can do so using Crime stoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477.
