FRIDAY,
NOVEMBER 29, 2019
VOLUME 113, No.44
www.thevincentian.com
Stop the Four shootings in spread of HIV 24 hours Page 13 Page 4
Local movie released Page 17
EC$1.50
SVG gets national wear Page 18
Police officer on rape charge Page 32
TOUGH SENTENCES... BUT DAMAGE DONE At the Sentencing Hearing, Justice Brian Cottle, highlighted as a major THE PSYCHOLOGICAL aggravating factor the negative impact WOUNDS on the incident has had on the Tourism ‘yachties’ Mark product up to today. He outlined that Beisar and Christina Beisar stopped sailing the Caribbean Curtin, both of St. following the incident, his engagement Croix, as well as the with Curtin ended, and there has been damage done to the a decline in the arrival of ‘yachties’ to tourism industry Union Island. here, may never be The perception of Union Island has healed, despite changed with persons here and abroad heavy prison now describing it as unsafe for sentences handed tourists, Cottle proffered. down on the two Cottle took on board the ages of the men who viciously men at the time of the incident, as a attacked and mitigating factor, but contended that wounded the couple the aggravating factors outweighed the aboard the yacht mitigating ones. ‘Rainbow’, six years The men were unable to receive any ago. discount on their sentences, as the Such were the matter went through a full trial. They sentiments derived were facing life imprisonment for both L-R: Jeromie Jordan was held out as a thief by his from the summation the aggravated burglary and causing island colleagues, and residents of Union Island of Justice Brian grievous bodily harm, but Cottle, described Enard Douglas as a violent person. Cottle as he handed applying sentencing guidelines, used down sentences on 10 years as a starting point for each sentence for burglary. Jeromie ‘JJ” Jordan and Enard ‘Baptis’ offence. The cutlass attack on the ‘yachtie’s Douglas, at the Criminal Assizes on Malicious wounding carries a was committed around 8pm on October Friday, November 22. maximum penalty of 14 years, but the 3, 2013, off Frigate Rock, Union The men were each sentenced to 15 Island, where the yacht was anchored. Judge used a starting point of six years in prison for causing grievous years for the offence. Douglas was 15 and Jordan 16 at bodily harm with intent to Curtin, 14 years for aggravated burglary, and five the time of the incident. Continued on Page 3. A nine-member mixed jury found years for maliciously wounding Beison, the men guilty on all counts on the yacht’s captain. Right: Justice Brian Cottle was The sentences will run concurrently. October 25 this year, but sentencing telling in his comments regarding was adjourned pending Social Inquiry As such therefore, they will each serve how the offence against two Reports. Both men were a sentence of 15 years, with 30 days ‘yachties’ had tarnished the unrepresented. deducted from Douglas’ sentence for image of the country and Union time spent on remand. Island in particular, tourist Basis for Sentencing Jordon is currently serving a destinations. by HAYDN HUGGINS