ST. JOHN’S — Two Jamaican women face legal consequences and deportation following a confrontation with an immigration officer at the V.C. Bird International Airport.
Alicia Ricketts, who was being refused re-entry into Antigua along with her friend, physically attacked the officer by kicking her in the chest.
Ricketts also faced charges for malicious damage after destroying the officer’s uniform and for resisting arrest.
Appearing before Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel at All Saints Court on Wednesday, Ricketts pleaded guilty to all charges.
She was fined $400 for battery, with a default sentence of seven days in prison if the fine is not paid, and was reprimanded and discharged for the malicious damage.
Additionally, she received a $500 fine for resisting arrest, with a seven-day imprisonment term for non-payment.
Her companion, Renea Nelson, was fined $250 for disorderly conduct due to excessive noise, with a three-day imprisonment term if the fine remains unpaid.
Following the court proceedings, immigration authorities secured deportation orders for both women. They are scheduled to be deported on to Jamaica on Sunday.
In a separate case, 62-year-old Jamaican Corrol Lee Gayle has also been ordered deported from Antigua. Gayle, who arrived by boat and disembarked without proper authorization, was charged with unlawful entry, entering through an undesignated port, and failing to present himself to immigration authorities.
He had also overstayed his permit, which expired in December 2018.
Gayle pleaded guilty to the charges and was reprimanded and discharged by the court.
However, a deportation order was issued at the request of immigration authorities.
He was detained overnight and departed Antigua the following day.