.png)
Stricter immigration screening needed- concerned residents
During late 2013 and early 2014, this news site was bombarded by calls from an individual who brought to our attention the presence in the territory of a St Vincent national who was convicted for manslaughter and had spent some 10 years behind bars for the crime.
The source of this information at the time had feared for his life and claimed he was even threatened by the man on one occasion.
Resident assists Immigration Dept
He had told this news site that he knew of the man’s background of being an ex-convict and had pain-stakingly tried to get the Immigration Department to have the man investigated but the process at the time seemed to have been taking extremely longer than it should. “It should have been easy because I gave them all the information, I gave them his right name and I gave them the name he changed to, to get past immigration,” he had told this news site as he had also pleaded with us to do the investigation and make it public.
Several calls were made by this news site to St Vincent authorities who had promised to return calls with information but never did.
“I must say thanks to Mr Guy Hill because when I thought he wasn’t doing anything he really did and that ex-con is back in his country. So I just called on behalf of my good friend who had told you guys about this matter,” said one Mr F. Malone.
From Mark Peters to Mark DeFreitas!
The ex-convict was known in the VI as Mark Antonio DeFreitas but his real is Mark Peters. In 2000 he was charged for the murder of one Darrel Jacobs of Diamond Village, St Vincent. He had, however, appealed the murder charge and was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. He completed his 10-year sentence in a prison in St Vincent in 2007.
It was after his release that the man chose the VI as his home to get away from his past sins and had taken out a Deed Poll that changed his name from Mark Peters to Mark DeFreitas.
Investigations revealed that DeFreitas got a passport in St Vincent in the name of Mark Antonio DeFreitas and successfully made his way into the VI where he resided for a number of years.
“My friend did what the Immigration should have done. My friend investigated this man, took it to the Immigration Department and now he is deported,” said Mr Malone.
“He got in here, hooked up with one of our innocent girls, got work permit and all that you know, but thank God he is now deported, but there are more to be investigated,” he added.
In the High Court it was found that the man on entering the territory deceitfully presented documents in a new name, purporting that he had absolutely no previous conviction. However, he recently lost a legal battle against a Deportation Order made in 2014 by the then Governor William Boyd McCleary.
Background
When the man had completed an Application for an Entry for Immigration purposes, he stated that his name was previously ‘Mark Cousel Peters’. Following that initial permit, his entry and work permit were renewed yearly.
It was in January 2014 he was interviewed by the Immigration Department about his immigration status in the VI and, based on the revelations and findings, he was then asked to surrender his passport and leave the territory by February, 13, 2014. He was also given until April 9, 2014 to state why the then Governor should not have made the Deportation Order against him.
The then Chief Immigration Officer Guy Hill had explained that the Deportation Order had resulted from the man’s conviction for manslaughter in a foreign jurisdiction.
Therefore, based on the Immigration and Passport Ordinance, he was said to be “an undesirable immigrant and his presence in the territory is not conducive to the public good”.
The Plea
“We have many issues facing this very small territory and this is a serious one as the crimes, gun crimes are climbing. We need to have some way of doing some background checks, randomly for a start, to bring back the beauty and innocence of this little place we call nature’s little secret,” said the source.
Mr Malone said the territory is quickly evolving into something that may soon become too big to handle by government. “They must act now and fast.”
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
40 Responses to “Stricter immigration screening needed- concerned residents”
The immigrations need to sweep east end in the early morning or late at night because I know at least r two Jamaican here over staying in the country at present. One is even going around doing mechanic work and a few police and government vehicles.
The then Chief Immigration Officer Guy Hill had explained that the Deportation Order had resulted from the man’s conviction for manslaughter in a foreign jurisdiction.
That man Hill is such a City Slicker. good job. @ LBM ur such a Bammer. Hill and retired Senior Surveillance officer Waltwers is who investigated the reports on that bloke. Give credit where it is due. Seems like you have orts with the man.
You say you tell Immigration, and Immigration say it was a woman.
You had pain-stakingly tried to get the Immigration Department to have the man investigated but the process at the time seemed to have been taking extremely longer than it should. “It should have been easy because I gave them all the information, I gave them his right name and I gave them the name he changed to, to get past immigration,” he had told this news site as he had also pleaded with us to do the investigation and make it public.
Well if it was you, you digging hole for people? While you digging, dig a big one to bury yourself. Karma done packed her bag caught a plane and is on her way.
is wrong, in order to deport them, you might as well deport the whole country. There's all kinds of scrutiny of
foreigners coming here to live, while at same time some really seriously destructive people are happy as a clam
here and very wealthy and influential. Quite the mixed bag. Sometimes it is a bag of nuts.
What are strict laws when our own local people assist with bending and breaking them? Most of the illegal nonsense happening here with Immigration and Labour is being facilitated by our own local people for a little crutch or a few dollars. Do the math and follow the money, it's sickening. We sit here and act as though these people are doing these things on their own but it's not possible without the local help. There are many locals here falsifying documentation, advertising fake jobs, sponsoring people, smuggling people, asking uncle, aunt, cousin, god father in certain positions to give this one and that one a chance. It is an entire culture of corruption that will never change. Government can pass all the laws they want, all those departments from Police, Immigration, Labour, Customs, many of them don't give a sh** about protecting the BVI. They only give a sh** about the big money they make on the side making life easier for the bad seeds while we get the nasty end of the stick. Stop being naive, it's our own people causing this damn destruction and all for what? A little santo pork and a fist full of dollars? Shameful what we have become then are not man/woman enough to admit, but hide behind Government and laws. Bullsh**!
Who was the one going around telling his mistresses and others that he kill a teenager in st Vincent and he would do it again? who was even threatening his former employers? he even beat one-off at fine food in east end.the matter was reported to the police.He even brought his brother here trying to fine work for him.The same brother who was shot in the face in st Vincent during a robbery.The security guard shot him when he allegedly attempted to rob the lottery money.thats a fact.The criminal record office in st Vincent is what really need investigating.
@wise up. That department didnt went down and u dam well know that. U just didnt get ur Dam way. The last head probably kept your @$$ in check and u did not like him for that.
REALLY!!!!
Hill was enforcing the laws but what did the Government do?