German national deported from St. Kitts

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A German national was yesterday(June 20) deported from the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis after he was found in violation of immigration laws.

Wilhelm ‘Willy’ Kuttler, who has been residing in Molineux Village since 2006, was deported to his country of birth after he overstayed the time given by Immigration and did not regularise his status.

At about 3:15 this afternoon when SKNVibes arrived at the Robert L Bradshaw International Airport, Kuttler was seen in the company of two Immigration Officers who were processing his documents for deportation.

Kuttler told this media house that while in his home yesterday morning, Immigration Officers arrived and informed him that he was an illegal immigrant and would be deported today.

“I was home in Molineux when the officers came and told me that I am illegally in the country. My passport had expired and they did not give me enough time to look for it. They didn’t even give me time to pack anything…all that I am travelling with is this plastic bag with toilet paper and some other little things in it and the clothes I am wearing,” Kuttler said.

He however admitted to not regularising his status, but claimed that since 2007 he had sent documents to the Consulate in Trinidad to have his passport renewed in order to legalise his stay on St. Kitts.

“Officials at the Consulate informed me that they could not find my documents, and this is what caused me to be deemed an illegal immigrant. I was not treated well by the Immigration Officers and this is very unfair. Any national from this Federation can travel to Europe and be admitted, so why am I being treated in this manner in this country. When I arrive in Europe, I’m going to inform the media of this treatment and I am certain it will affect tourism,” Kuttler said.

He also informed that his wife teaches at Cayon High School and the authorities should have taken that into consideration. He further stated that he had sought legal advice and was in the process of having his passport renewed so as to go through the normal procedure at the Ministry of National Security.

When contacted for a comment, Kuttler’s legal counsel, Chesley Hamilton said he was disturbed over the matter and intimated that due procedure was not initiated.

“I was informed after 10:00 yesterday morning about the incident and I am very disturbed over it. When deporting an illegal immigrant on a Saturday, it is almost impossible to get a hearing at the court. Kuttler was entitled to a hearing before deportation…there was no habeas corpus; he was entitled to that. He did not infringe any criminal law; he overstayed while renewing his passport,” Hamilton said. 

Hamilton said that a similar incident had occurred in the past and it is his belief that Kuttler was deported because he was seen at the launch of the People’s Action Movement Election Campaign. 

“A similar situation had occurred with a Canadian citizen name Daniel Nicastro because he was on the United National Empowerment Party’s platform. And I am of the view that Mr. Kuttler was deported because he was seen at PAM’s launch.”
However, Inspector Luther Kelly of the Immigration Department, who was responsible for processing the documents for Kuttler’s departure, said the German had violated the immigration laws and he therefore had to be deported.

Kelly said that his Department is currently on an exercise to flush out all illegal immigrants and Kuttler was not the first to have been deported. He pointed out that many Caribbean nationals were also arrested and given the opportunity to pay for overstaying in the Federation but were subsequently sent back to their country of birth. 

Only last week SKNVibes learnt that two Guyanese were deported on a similar issue.