Antigua St John's - Youth minister Dr Jacqui Quinn-Leandro wants no part of the recent court ruling that would see the deportation of an 11-year-old Jamaican.

The minister, currently attending a conference in Suriname, told Caribarena.com on Wednesday that "the law will take its course,” and she had nothing to add from her youth affairs portfolio.

“This is the judgment of the court,” the minister said.

The primary school student appeared before Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh on Monday and pleaded guilty to two counts of larceny.

This was his second appearance for the same offence.

Attorney Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin was quoted on observer newspaper telling the court that the boy’s parents were “fed up” with him and had no interest in affecting the court’s decision.

But what sparked the most public reaction, particular from Jamaicans, were the chief magistrate's statements when she handed down her judgment.



Media reports (Observer and The Gleaner) quote Magistrate Walsh as saying, “He is already broken into being a thief. If his own parents can’t cope with him, why should the state cope with him? It is obvious that he does not listen to them (his parents)… I am seriously contemplating on sending him back to Jamaica and he can steal there.”

The story was carried in Jamaica and generated several comments.

Police spokesman William Holder said normally, the boy would have been enrolled in the police force’s Youth Intervention programme, but since he has no legal standing in the country, he cannot benefit from that initiative.

The child reportedly came to Antigua for a visit some time ago and overstayed. His parents did not have his status renewed.

Holder said the parents' status was unclear, but he confirmed that the onus was on them to regularize their son's immigration standings.

Benjamin said his role in the case was purely voluntary, having gotten wind of the case before it was called for hearing.



“I volunteered to help the boy and his family,” he said, but there was little he could do, since the boy’s actions had “caught up with him.”

On Wednesday, he said he had not been able to follow up on the matter, and could not say whether the deportation order had been carried out.

Benjamin said he would be looking into the matter on Thursday.



Read more: Education Minister Has Little to Say on Deportation | Latest | News | Home | CARIBARENA ANTIGUA

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After me tell dem run de marathon
dem couldnt run it!
after me tell dem bun dung de dance
dem couldnt bun it!!

Buju

Antigua St John's - The reaction from the parents of the 11-year-old Jamaican boy ordered deported “leaves a lot to be desired,” the attorney who represented him in court said on Monday.

Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, who took the case pro bono, said he is yet to hear from the boy’s parents about the possibility of appealing the chief magistrate’s decision, or exploring other avenues.

“Neither parent has tried to make contact with me one way or the other," he said. "I do not know exactly what they intend to do. But they do have the rights under the law of the immigration and passport act, to make an appeal against that decision to the High Court. They have said nothing to me on that."

The attorney said he is concerned about the lack of interest shown by the parents. “I am concerned about that," Benjamin said. "For a father to say that he has done everything he could for a child of 11 years leaves much to be desired. That really bothers me."

He explained that the father complained about having paid “enough money” to get his son on the right track, and has had enough.

The attorney noted that because of his caseload, he could not look into the status of the case on Thursday.



He said the next step for a child in cases like these would rely entirely on the parents, once they have current immigration standing.

“In cases like these, children normally obtain the same time as those of their parents," Benjamin said. "But it seems rather odd, the statement that the child was out of time."

Benjamin could not say whether the child was still in immigration detention, and whether he had been separated from the adults. He assured that he would be consulting with immigration authorities and other related parties to determine the child’s status.

He explained that once an appeal application has not been filed, the child would not be allowed to remain in Antigua.



Read more: Attorney Concerned About Parents' Reaction | Latest | News | Home | CARIBARENA ANTIGUA

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After me tell dem run de marathon
dem couldnt run it!
after me tell dem bun dung de dance
dem couldnt bun it!!

Buju

What's new, a small minded decision.

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After me tell dem run de marathon
dem couldnt run it!
after me tell dem bun dung de dance
dem couldnt bun it!!

Buju

Dats why when mi seh bun smallie people nuh fi seh nutten to mi.

Savages

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Humans Against Trade Embargoes Tactically Neutralizing Trinindad

is aryou people dem weh nuh mind dem pickney an leh dem get snatch up by immigration so wha "smallie savages" yuh a talk bout?

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"ou sé on makoumè koukoun a manman vou, ou ka fè parti du battyboy crew"


Father, before mi mind get bad
Betta yuh flip it round and mek mi mind get mad
Mi prefer fi work hard everyday fi achieve mi goals
Nah grudge nobody fi dem own

I agree with the judge, and the way the parents reacted. what a disgrace.

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The enemy of my enemy is my friend- Arabic proverb

Tell your people to stop causing trouble in other people's country. Every week you hearing something about a Jamaican causing trouble.

This yardie got the nerve to call my people savages..ha! Well if it ain't the pot calling the kettle black. 11 years old or not..he go ah Antigua as wan illegal ana commit crime..me nuh Kay if ah WAN likkle pikney..send he likkle thiefing rass back ah jamaica..

Why should the state of Antigua have to pay for rehabilitation when he should be in his country of birth being looked after and burdening their system.

His own gat damn parents don't even give a rats Ass but you expect my country should?
Come to think of it I suspect one if not both of his parents are illegals also..they should look into their status as well and if all ain't right with them either then send Di whole ah dem packing on the next available flight.

Amen! Amen!

TheEducator

You know its true. Thats why you laughing.

Correct, any Jamaican that go to those places have no shame.

An 11 year old kid stealing, that's just unheard of everywhere in the world.

Every week you here of Jamaicans breaking records, and achieving great things.

What do they do your little insignificant piece of rock? Hopefully you get upset and start talking out of your ass like smallies do, i find it quite entertaining.

where are you located??

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The enemy of my enemy is my friend- Arabic proverb