Church handyman to pay $750 for marijuana possession

This submission was made to a magistrate yesterday in defence of a man who works at a Roman Catholic church, but who was charged with possession of marijuana.

Agin Gaskin, 43, of Corinth Hill, Ste Madeleine, near San Fernando, appeared before Magistrate Brambhanan Dubay in the San Fernando Magistrates Court before whom he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Prosecutor Sgt Denzil Alexander told Dubay that it was at about 8.05am on Monday during J’Ouvert celebrations in San Fernando when police officers saw Gaskin in a crowd. He was holding a cigarette which, Dubay heard, was of unusual length. The officers became suspicious and arrested Gaskin. Upon examining the cigarette they saw it contained marijuana.

It weighed one gramme.

Pleading on behalf of Gaskin, attorney Ainsley Lucky told Dubay that Gaskin works at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on Harris Promenade, and he certainly regretted the crime he had committed.

Dubay ordered Gaskin to pay a fine of $750 in 30 days or serve four months in jail.