BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE St. Lucian captain of
the vessel that was caught on Saturday (Sept. 1) in the Federation’s
territorial waters carrying a large quantity of cocaine was sentenced to serve
two years with hard labour at Her Majesty’s Prison.
The captain, 56-year-old Vincent Clerice of
Marigot, St. Lucia, appeared last Wednesday (Sept. 5) before Her Worship
Josephine Mallalieu-Webbe at the Basseterre Magistrate’s Court to answer to the
charges of possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply
to another and importation of cocaine into the Federation.
Clerice pleaded guilty to all three charges but
was convicted for importation of cocaine into the Federation and sentenced to
two years imprisonment with hard labour.
He was also fined EC$1M to be paid in nine months
and, if in default, will have to serve an additional four-year term in prison
with hard labour.
Nixon Alexander of Marigot, St. Lucia, was also
aboard the vessel and the said charges were proffered against him.
The 42-year-old crew member pleaded not guilty to
the charges and they were subsequently withdrawn. However, Chief Magistrate
Mallalieu-Webbe ordered that he be deported to his country of birth at the
earliest opportunity, and that order was executed on the following day.
The Chief Magistrate also ordered that the vessel
involved in the transshipment of the illicit drugs be forfeited to the Crown
and be advertised in the local media for sale at a public auction.
At about noon on Saturday (Sept. 1), during a
joint Maritime Anti-Narcotics Operation between the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence
Force’s Coast Guard and the Dutch Navy Frigate HR. MS. TROMP (F-803), a white
15.36-metre United Kingdom-registered yacht bearing the name SINESTRA PROVE was
sailing in the Old Road area.
Members aboard the Dutch vessel had observed the
crew of the SINESTRA PROVE jettisoning some bags into the Caribbean Sea, and on
closing with the yacht they recovered six bags from the water.
On examination of the bags, it was discovered
that they each contained 20 three-inch thick 12-inch long packages of a white
substance, which was tested and proved to be cocaine amounting to 120 kilos.
A recent press release from the Police Public
Relations Office however said, “Further evaluation of the drug revealed that it
was 134.108 kilograms at an estimated street value of EC$11,816,255.00.”
Documents aboard the yacht indicated that Clerice
was both captain and owner while Alexander was the lone crew member. Both men
and the illegal drugs were handed over to the police after the yacht was
escorted to the Coast Guard Base at Bird Rock and they were subsequently
charged.
Source:
http://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/63122
PS: It is alleged that the boat involved in the transshipment of illicit drugs belongs to two (2) high-profile St.Lucians, one is a prominent businessman and the other is a ex-minister of Government.
More details as the story unfold!
One would have thought that the now opposition would take this opportunity to get rid of the bad elements, regroup and rethink their approach to bring the UWP back to what it was. In so doing, one would have also thought that King would accept the PM's offer to work together through these challenging times; a time of new societal issues brought about largely by the drug trade and an abandonment of good moral values. A time of a new tax system, which probably is the only answer to sustaining the existing recurring expenditure, whilst controlling these sad social issues.
ReplyDeleteThen again "one would have thought", just not King.
Instead he has shifted into Campaign mode preparing a series of meetings. Can anyone tell me what the campaign is about? Is King trying to keep his post as Opposition leader by taking to the streets?
I don't know, but whilst he's at it St. Lucians remember that this is a time to educate yourself on the new tax system, a time to take advantage of the construction stimulus, a time to prioritize the use of your hard earned dollar, a time to shape your kids so they can survive in this quickly becoming "selfish and dangerous St. Lucia."
It is not a time to follow political parties to drink and pretend that gathering in one colour will change the reality of the day in the morning.