An 18-year-old Trinidadian man who came to St. Vincent and the Grenadines illegally in March says he did so because two rival gangs had threatened to kill him.
The man, Shaquille Brandon Miller, was arrested in Layou, a town on St. Vincent’s southwestern coast, on Friday and brought before Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
He was charged with entering St. Vincent and the Grenadines without a passport, disembarking other than at a port of entry, and disembarking without the permission of an immigration officer.
Miller pleaded guilty to all three charges.
He told the court that there are two rival gangs in Trinidad, namely Rasta City and Muslim City.
Miller said that he was born and grew up in San Juan, Laventille, a Rasta City area.
He, however, said that his house was burnt in December 2015 so he moved to Oropune Gardens, a Muslim City area, to live with his grandmother, who was born in St. Vincent.
The man said that his grandmother heard from a friend that the gangs were saying that Miller is associated with each other and that both gangs were planning to kill him.
The man, who said that he was studying hydraulics at trade school when he came to St. Vincent, said that his grandmother suggested that he come to St. Vincent.
“I agree to it. Me life in threat so ah must agree to it,” said Miller, who also told the court he came to St. Vincent in March 2018.
He said that in Layou, he was renting a house from his aunt, but the aunt had a disagreement with his grandmother, who was supporting him.
The aunt called the police, but when they went to the house on an early morning, Miller was at his girlfriend’s – a mother of a 2-year-old child whose father is deceased — he told the court.
He said his “soldier” told him what had happened.
“A soldier is a friend; a good one. He check for me,” Miller told the court when asked why he calls his friend “a soldier”.
Miller said he told his friend that he was not going to run from the police.
Police arrested Miller while patrolling Layou on Friday.
He told the court that he saw the police coming and he did not run and when they told him he was under arrest, “I tell them, ‘Yeah. Leh we go.’”
The man said that since coming to St. Vincent he has been surviving “through meh grandmother”.
He also said he worked off and on.
The magistrate said:
“I tell you what, the explanation that was given by you is one that appears to be correct, because, fortunately, I follow what is happening in Trinidad.”
Asked if he has been following what has been happening in his country, Miller said he has been doing so through social media.
The magistrate asked him the name of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and he said, “Dr. Keith Rowley”.
Miller, however, corrected himself when he said the Commissioner of Police was “Officer Carmona or something like that, I don’t know his name”, adding, “Nah, that’s the president, sorry.”
The youngster said that if he is deported back to Trinidad he would go to another section of the country, where another relative lives.
The magistrate told the man that if he has to come to St. Vincent, he cannot “just slip in like that”.
Miller told the court that he has a girlfriend in St. Vincent, who is the mother of a 2-year-old baby whose father is deceased.
The magistrate said, “Mr. Miller, if you want to come back to St. Vincent, you are welcome to do so anytime, but you do it properly, use your passport, your ID card, either come in at the airport or one of the seaports. You understand? You can’t just slip into St. Vincent like that.”
Miller responded, “Yes, sir.”
Burnett who had earlier referred to “sweet SVG”, told Miller that he is going to order that he be deported “to sweet T&T”.
“I wish you all the best,” the magistrate said.
“I will not impose a fine because you seem unable to pay any fine. I will spare you that one,” Burnett further said.
This is so heartless. From the youths statement, he is seeking refuge.
I would have turned him over to immigration with an order to give him a 6 month stay, with allowance to extend, not deport him – in light of the facts presented. Yes he fled to save his life. This burns my heart. What if he is killed upon his return to TNT? He obviously loves and respect his Grandmother as to follow her instructions, that evokes his kindred, fragile spirit. He should have been helped not hindered! May God protect him!
Couldn’t the youngman be advised to file an asylum claim? What if his story is completely genuine and he is found dead over the weekend? How would this resonate Regionally? This is not a good judgement.
HUMANITARIAN SIDE OF THE MAGISTRACY
Even as the law shall be obeyed, in given circumstances
‘…necessity knows no law.’.
This speaks exceeding well of a Magistrate who clearly
understands human nature and attendant miseries.
He obviously understood the plight of the youth and his unfortunate
circumstance; then placed himself in his position and felt his pain.
This was adjudication with a human touch.
HUMAN TOUCH
That which represents a ‘…Human Touch’ was the Court’s decision
not to impose a fine or a custodial sentence on the defendant.
This may be a bad judgement, but the judge have to do her job, you can’t have anyone and everyone coming to SVG, the way he did there is still a legal way of doing it, like she said get a passport, a ID card and for a plain ticket, he got family in SVG, so it would not be hard to get entry, sorry for the youngster but if she let him stay, everyone will come up with a sad story to stay, true is everywhere have gangs, question is why are they trying to kill you, moving from one side to another is really not a reason,
I agree with you on what you said
Is he not entitled to Vince citizenship because of parental ties?
MIKE THE MAGISTRATE IS A “HE” not “SHE” lol!!!
Opp my bad
The youth has no remorse for being a gangster, so he made his decision to be a gangster, instead of being a good scholar and citizen. He should learn from his own mistakes. I wish him well and hope he lives to be a good citizen.
Ken what proof you have labeling the youth a gangster? Running for you life doesn’t equate to gangsterism.
Did you read and understand what he said when he mentioned the two gangs?
San juan, laventille rd is not a rasta city area …. it not a ghetto or a hood it a village.
i know this young man
Ken you are implying that the youth is a gangster. He did not say that he belonged to either of tge gangs. What he said is that two rival fans threatened to kill him. Could it be that they wanted to recruit him and he refused? This is a plausible explanation as to why he flee for his life. However, to say the guy is a gangster is to label him without any justication. It’s only when the chickens have come home to roost then you will understand how it feels to be labeled unjustifiable. I hope it will never happen to you Ken.
Ken Jack, reading and understanding what is are two separate attributes. My take on it is thst you read what the man said but you lack the understanding to decipher what he is saying. Please don’t end up in the court of law is my advice to you.
So Thomas what are you doing to stop or prevent his deportation since you are so concerned?
Ken Jack whether the youth is deported or not is neither here nor there with me. My concerns stems from the fact that you have taken written words out of context to say what the youth never said intend to say or implied. I won’t go as far as to say you are being malicious but you clearly adding to what was written.