$1,000 fine for 4 iguanas

Four iguanas, which a Tobago woman said were “left back” in her deep freeze (refrigerator) following a harvest festival last April, yesterday cost her $1,000 in the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court. The fine was imposed on Wendy DesVignes by Second Court Magistrate Halcyon Yorke-Young after she admitted to having the iguanas, a much sought-after delicacy especially at the popular Harvest event in the island. Des Vignes, of Goodwood, east Tobago, made an immediate ‘downpayment’ of $200 and was given three weeks to pay the rest, failing which she would have to serve three months’ immprisonment with hard labour. “I had them there since April when the season was open; I didn’t know there was any trouble in that,” she told the magistrate. “It’s not included in the list of animals so it is a protected animal. The offence is not when you got it but having it in your possession,” the magistrate explained.

DesVignes was charged by Det PC Andy Cunningham with having protected animals in her possession contrary to the Protection and Conservation of Wildlife Act. Prosecutor Sgt Neil Adams told the court that Cunningham and other officers executed a search warrant for dangerous drugs at DesVignes’ home around 3.30 pm last Thursday. No illegal drugs were found, but Cunningham found and seized the four frozen iguanas.