A St Lucian national who entered SVG illegally, told the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday 17th September 2018, that he came to island to farm “everything”.
Nigel Joseph, 32, of Castries, St Lucia who appeared before Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett, pleaded guilty to being a prohibited immigrant.
Joseph admitted to the court that he entered the state by boat and disembarking without the consent of an immigration officer.
Joseph told the court it was the first time he came to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and that he is a farmer and came here to farm.
When asked by Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnette, what he intended to plant, the St. Lucian said, “Everything” and further told the court that the soil here was of a better quality than that of St Lucia.
When told by the senior magistrate that there are enough labourer’s here on the island, Joseph said he was not a labourer.
He was further asked by the magistrate; “What type of farming are you going to do?
To which Joseph replied “Everything” and further told the court that he was not about to lie.
According to court records, Joseph made the entry at Owia between August 24 and 25, 2018.
He was caught when police carried out a search warrant on a house in Owia. Joseph was fined $500 on each charge or three months in prison.
A deportation order was also made for the 32yro St Lucian national.
