Barbados Court of Appeal today ordered the release from prison of a Jamaican man who breached the COVID-19 quarantine regulations.
The decision was handed down by Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham and Justices of Appeal Rajendra Narine and Margaret Reifer.
Forty nine year old Dean George Scott, a mason who was a guest at Crystal Beach Hotel, had pleaded guilty before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes to contravening the Emergency Management Curfew by leaving quarantine on December 7th last year without a reasonable explanation.
When Mr. Scott appeared in court at a later date in December, a six-month sentence was imposed even though the Jamaican begged for community service, saying he had enough money to buy his ticket to return home, but not enough to pay a fine.
Based on his inability to pay the fine – a custodial sentence was imposed.
However, his attorneys disagreed with the decision and filed an appeal arguing, among other things, that the imposition of a prison term was excessive.
Mr. Scott’s appeal was then upheld and in handing down the ruling today Chief Justice Patterson Cheltenham said Mr. Scott should be freed by the prison once all health protocols are satisfied.
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