(Antigua Sun) – A young Guyanese mother of twin girls was ordered deported from Antigua last Friday after she pleaded guilty to remaining in the country after the expiration of a permit.
Mishana Paul-Hodge of Lower Ottos appeared before Chief Magistrate Ivan Walters in the St. John’s Magistrates’ Court.
Walters forfeited the fine, but granted the removal order for her to leave Antigua last Friday afternoon.
Paul-Hodge arrived in Antigua on 8 August, 2008, and was given an entry permit to remain here until 9 September. On that day she presented herself to the Immigration Department’s extension division and made application for an extension to remain in Antigua as the holder of a Skilled National Certificate. She was granted an extension from 9 September, 2008, to 8 February, 2009, a period of five months.
The 29-year-old woman on 10 February, went to the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) Unit seeking to further extend her stay in the country. Paul-Hodge was advised by the CSME officer that her qualifications as a trained teacher did not fit any category signed on by any member-state, and that she was not eligible to receive any further extension. She was told that she would have to leave the country, but she failed to do so and did not return to the Immigration Department until 11 June. At that time she was told that she had committed an offence by remaining in the state without legal status and that she would be charged. Paul-Hodge declined to give a statement and she was arrested and charged.
Attorney-at-law Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin said the woman came here with her twin daughters who hold Caricom Community passports. Benjamin told the court that Paul-Hodge’s children were granted time to remain in Antigua on 31 August, 2008, until 31 December, 2009, to attend the ACME Preschool. He said the twin girls came to Antigua to live with their grandmother.
