5 Venezuelans fined

A Siparia magistrate, in passing sentence, said there comes a time when one must temper the application of the law with humanitarian concerns, especially in the crisis that has befallen TT’s neighbour on the South American continent.

The five Venezuelans were arrested by police two Sundays ago at the Los Iros beach after they were found in a boat which also contained 28 live sheep. Appearing yesterday before Senior Magistrate Armina Deonarinesingh were Wilmer Gonzales - captain of the boat named ‘Kendy’; Wilmer Derli Gonzalez; Edgarvi Jose’ Sanchez; Ayhoda Francisco Garcia and Edgar Efrani Espinoza Moya.

The captain Gonzales (Wilmer), pleaded guilty to two charges that at Los Iros beach on Sunday October 2, he failed to call at the Cedros Port of entry. A second charge against the captain, alleged that he imported into Trinidad and Tobago, 28 heads of sheep which are restricted goods. The charge against the other four, stated that on the same day at an unknown beach in Los Iros, they did enter the country which is not a designated port of entry and they failed to report to an Immigration officer.

Those charges were laid contrary to Section 40 (a) of the Immigration Act Chapter 18:01.

Senior Legal adviser to Customs and Excise, attorney Harricharan Cassie, told magistrate Deonarinesingh as the five Venezuelans stood before her, that it was at about 5.30 pm when two police officers from the Erin Police Station were on mobile patrol in the Los Iros beach and they spotted the pirogue parked up on beach and the sheep inside the boat.

After interviewing the men, Immigration and Customs officers were notified. Immigration Officer Chateramsingh and Customs Officer Ian Mohammed laid the charges. The sheep were taken off the boat and subsequently impounded then euthanised by officials of the Ministry of Agriculture because of concerns that such animals can spread the dreaded Foot-and- Mouth disease.

Attorney Renu Teekasingh who represented the men, said she was “touched” by their plight as explained by interpreter.

She said the five came to Trinidad hoping to barter the livestock for food such as rice, flour and beans, for their families back in Venezuela.

Magistrate Deonarinesingh said that while one must feel for the suffering of people in Venezuela which is going through economic and political turmoil, the law remains the law and an example must be set that those wishing to enter TT’s shores, must do so via all legal channels available.

For importing the prohibited sheep which carries a sentence under the Customs and Excise Act of a fine equivalent to thrice the value of the goods, or $50,000 and a jail term and, for failing to call at an official port of entry for which the maximum penalty is $100,000 under the Immigration Act, magistrate Deonarinesingh fined boat captain Gonzales (Wilmer) $15,000.

The other four were fined $5,000 each and were all given a month to pay, failing which they could serve nine months in jail.