JO - Hondurans face deportation

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Observer

Hondurans face deportation

Observer Reporter

Friday, May 12, 2006

FIVE Hondurans were Wednesday ordered deported when they pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal entry in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's Court.

According to court documents, a crew of 60 Honduran fishermen entered Jamaican waters on May 3, and sailed to the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard Station on the Cays. The fishermen were seeking medical attention for a fellow fisherman who had been bitten by a barracuda and was bleeding profusely.

While waiting for the man to receive medical attention, the five - Wanio Suniga, Donato Francisco, Macbel Calpio, Desman Torres and Merejildo Valeriano - disembarked the vessel. On their return they learnt that their ship had set sail for home without them.

Since that time the men had been on the Cays attempting to find and board a vessel going in their direction. They were subsequently taken into police custody and charged with illegal entry.