(Antigua Sun) – A Jamaican woman was recently severely reprimanded before being ordered deported when she appeared in the St John’s Magistrates’ Court.
Samantha Tanya Peart pleaded guilty to remaining in Antigua and Barbuda after the expiration of a permit legally issued to her by the Immigration Department. She appeared before Magistrate Joan Fung.
The court heard that on 22 June, immigration enforcement officers along with personnel from the Antigua and Barbuda Welfare Department and officers from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda acting on intelligence went on a joint operation to Peart’s home in Jennings.
The officers identified themselves to the 28-year-old woman and inquired of her status in the country. She presented to them a Jamaica passport, along with two birth certificates belonging to her children that showed Antiguan nationality.
It was noted from the passport that Peart arrived in Antigua on 24 December, 2000, and was landed until 23 January, 2001. However, the Jamaican woman remained in the state for about one year and four months after the expiration of her entry permit. On 2 April, 2002, Peart received an extension until 2 July, that year. After that permit expired, Peart again remained in the state illegally for seven months, and again obtained an extension on 7 February, 2003, until 6 August, 2003. On 12 August, 2003, she received a work permit valid until 11 May, 2004.
Reports are on 2 March, 2004, Peart acquired a temporary residence permit which was valid until 2 March, 2006. Upon the expiration of this permit the Jamaican woman remained in Antigua illegally, once again.
Peart was taken into custody and detained at the Immigration Department headquarters where she was asked to give a written statement, but she declined.
The 28-year-old Jamaican woman was later arrested and charged.
She told immigration officials, “I don’t mind going home, just give me my children.”
Magistrate Fung granted the deportation order with immediate effect and said that the Immigration Department is to allow her time to collect her personal effects.
Peart asked the court to allow her children to go to Jamaica with her, but the magistrate said the children are Antiguan nationals and their relatives, including their father, were Antiguan. Magistrate Fung told Peart that friends, through the Welfare Department, have agreed to take care of the children.
That is nonsense! How can they separate the woman from her children? Ok if they want to send her home, them send her but don’t take her children away from her. I guess that magistrate does not have any children their own. Do they know how it is to be separated from your children? This life is crazy.
Is there anyone petitioning the court to keep the children???
So Y would a judge separate children form a mother? Should this have been a family court decision rather than an immigration judge?
Thanks for taking a glimpse at how “Foreigners” as called, are treated in Antigua. To think a lot of people only think it happens in Barbados…
Dem all up in Barbados face. But I aint hear allyuh saying nuttin bout Antigua.
Commanndo if u read properly u’ll c the magistrate release her to get her things together…ok.not from d lock up to d plane like barbados.s
This is total nonsense. Even in the US, when someone in being deported, they are allowed to take their children. This woman made an enemy at the court and in being punished.
i was about to comment that the antiguans could show the bajans how things are done in that they gave the woman time to collect her personal things but what crap! since when does having different nationalities from your children any right to separate a mother from her children?
Wunna real throwin words for Bim, but look a how wunna getting manhandle every place else?
Must be something….. hmmm….
I don’t feel the woman should be separated from the children. But it is unclear if the father was petitioning for custody or what. Also, the woman says she did not mind going home. Which is untrue, or else she would have gone before or gone voluntarily. If you go by yourself, you are not considered deported and can collect your things and your children and go. So why she chose deportation?
Also, the US does separate people and children. As the man said, they are citizens of the State and the State can choose to protect them if they feel they will be harmed or mistreated elsewhere.
THESE CHILDREN WILL BE TRAUMATIZED…WHY THIS WOMAN HAS TO LEAVE HER CHILDREN…. WHERE ARE THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE CHILD HPYSIOLOGIST IN ALL THIS TO SAY HOW THIS CAN AFFECT THESE CHILDREN?.
These people who are been deported from Antigua are lucky for the treatment the got. Some one very close to me was deported from Antigua and she was send to prison for over staying her time in the country. she stayed one week in prison and then send back.