By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
FIVE BAHAMIAN men, who were all found in the same Montego Bay hotel room last Thursday, have been sentenced to 30 days in prison at hard labour for illegal entry.
The men who had all given the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court different reasons why they either entered the island illegally, or overstayed their time here, were also ordered removed when their sentences were up.
They are Vincent Smith 39 years old, Christopher Rolle- 33 years old, Nathan Stubbs- 33 years old, Nathaniel Rolle- 30 year old and Anesto Ryan Armbriste 24 years old, all fishermen.
Resident Magistrate Paulette Williams advised the men to "find some other places to go fishing" and also that, in future, they should send tickets to their Jamaican girl friends to come visit them as they would not be welcomed here again.
At least two of the men told the court, through their attorney, Clive Mullings, that they had children here.
Ms Williams said she would have simply sent them home on Friday, when they first came before her if they had given her a straight answer. She said she found it strange that they had not come here together, but ended up in the same hotel room. The RM said she was concerned about why they were here and how they had managed to stay here so long in hotels.
She said that Nathan Stubbs, who had told the court he had overstayed to take care of his sick child in Kingston, was dishonest as he had flown both the child and mother to Montego Bay and had put them up in a hotel along the 'Elegant Corridor.'
They had pleaded guilty to charges of overstaying and illegal entry on Friday.
Stubbs had told the court that he had come here to visit his son who was sick and in the hospital in Kingston. He was at pains to explain to the court why he was in Montego Bay, while the sick child was in Kingston.
Investigating officer, Constable Stephan Latty, told the court that his investigations had shown that Stubbs had given his address as Upper Deck Hotel, but was found at Hotel Montego.
Two of the men, Armbrister and Nathaniel Rolle, gave the court stories of being stranded here after boats they worked on had left them. Armbrister had landed in St Ann when the boat he worked on made an emergency landing, due to mechanical problems, but had been given an extension to stay until January 9.
