CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – JOYLIN ROSS, a Guyanese national and resident of Hermitage, Nevis has been charged and remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison for “Using a cell phone in a polling booth and Entering a polling station booth carrying a cell phone”.
According to a police press release, “The offences were committed at the Ivor Walters Primary School at Brown Hill in Electoral District Nevis (9) on Monday 25th January 2010 where police arrested Ross and took her into police custody at the Charlestown Police Station where she arrived at 9:10 am under arrest. Further investigations revealed that Ross immigration status has not been regularized. The police are objecting to bail however, Ross will be taken before the District ‘C’ presiding Magistrate as soon as reasonably practicable for a bail hearing. Investigations are still ongoing.”
The offences were committed on Monday (Jan. 25) when the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis held its Federal Elections.
In a recent interview with WINN FM 98.9, Supervisor of Elections Pastor Leroy Benjamin Sr. indicated that the Electoral Office had received reports that in the 2004 Federal Elections persons had photographed their ballots to later prove who they had voted for. These reports had led to the December 2009 passing of Legislation making it illegal for voters to take cameras or cellular phones into a polling booth.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Ross admitted to taking a cellular phone into the polling booth and photographing her ballot. She however claimed that she was pressured into committing the act by a notable character on Nevis, whom she alleged is a financial supporter of a political party on the island.
Recounting the events that led to her demise, Ross said she had been living on Nevis for some five years and was residing in Stoney Grove, but decided to move to Hermitage for personal reasons, where she shared a home with a very good female friend.
“It seems as if my land-mistress did not appreciate what I did, so she told another woman that I said I will not be voting for the party in government. Sometime after that, I was called by Ms. Elliott at the Premier’s Ministry and she told me that she heard what I said and offered me an ultimatum. She told me that I either leave the island or I would be deported to Guyana. She gave me one week to make a decision.
“Ms. Elliott subsequently called me, and on my return to her office she asked me if I had made my decision and I told her it was up to her to decide. So she told me that I had until December 18 to leave the island. I then visited a Minister in the Nevis Island Administration and he ensured that I had a valid work permit until December 31. I have a child just under three years old who was born in Nevis to a Nevisian father, and I contacted Mr. Conway and related my problems to him. He then invited me to a meeting at the St. Peter’s Community Centre on December 17, where Prime Minister Douglas was addressing the concerns of Guyanese in the Federation.
“I told the Prime Minister of my problems and he said that once a child was born in the Federation, the child is either a Kittitian or Nevisian and he would never separate the child from its parents. He also promised to speak to Premier Parry about my concerns. I felt elated by the interest he shown in my matter, but yet the pressure continued on Nevis,” Ross said.
Ross stated that on numerous occasions the alleged financial supporter of a political party would either telephone or speak to her whenever he saw her on the streets, on the issue of who she should vote for.
“He (name provided) also told me on several occasions that he does not want to see me in the company of some individuals known to be supporters of a particular political party. He also warned me to ‘keep away from Big Neck because she is encouraging you all to vote for (name of party given).’ On one occasion he displayed his displeasure after he found out that my daughter had attended the birthday party of a popular politician on Nevis. He told me that he saw her picture on Facebook, and I told him I did not take my daughter to the birthday party but some friends had done so. He again warned me who to vote for or I would be sent back to Guyana,” Ross declared.
In response to why she committed the act when it is known to be against the law, Ross said, “I wanted to prove that I did vote for the party so that I would not have to return to Guyana. I know that it was wrong for me to take a picture of my ballot but I never thought that I would have been caught in the act.”
Ross swore on her life that she was telling the truth and indicated that at about 6:00 a.m. on the day in question, she called the alleged political party’s financial supporter to take her to the polling station but he sent another man to chauffeur her there.
“I called him but he said he couldn’t come and he sent another man to take me to the polling station. He however reminded me who to vote for and that after voting I should go in the car and let the man take me to other polling stations and encourage all Guyanese to vote for the party of his choice,” she said.
Ross also stated that after being caught and was standing next to the fence at the polling station, she called the alleged political party’s financial supporter to seek his help and he said, “I don’t want nobody to put me in trouble to go a jail.”
She is also calling on all human rights associations and other social organisations in the Federation, regionally and internationally for assistance and to follow the outcome of her case.
When contacted for a comment, Guyana Honorary Consul to St. Kitts and Nevis, Stanford Conway said he knew of Ross’ problem and he did invite her to a meeting where the Prime Minister addressed her concerns.
He claimed to have visited Ross while in custody at the Charlestown Police Station and also Angelica Elliott, Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Ministry, on Thursday (Jan. 28).
“As Honorary Consul, my responsibilities include all immigration matters of Guyanese residing in the Federation. I heard about Ms. Ross’ dilemma, visited her at the police station and listened to her explanation for committing the offence. I subsequently paid a visit to the Permanent Secretary, who told me that she had indeed requested Ms. Ross’ presence in her office, where, as she claimed, she rebuked her on the life she was living and advised her ‘as a young woman with a beautiful face’ to make a positive change.
“I understood the Permanent Secretary’s advise to Ms. Ross to have also meant that she was publicly making derogotory statements about the Nevis Island Administration even though, as the PS said, they had assisted her in regularising her status in the Federation,” Conway said.
He noted that his request for a two-month extension on Nevis for Ross was denied.
“I was told by the police that Ms. Ross could be on bail to the tune of EC$10 000 and this could have been done by two sureties. However, she first needed to regularise her status. I learned that her lawyer, Geoffery Romany, tried to get her bailed but failed in his attempts. I therefore spoke to the issue of bail with the Permanent Secretary, who said that she would not rescind her decision of not granting Ms. Ross an extension until the end of February. I do not condone criminal acts, but my main interest was who would take care of Ms. Ross’ daughter. The offence, as I understand, carries a penalty of EC$10 000 fine or six months imprisonment or both and, should Ms. Ross be imprisoned, I believe that extension could have provided her enough time to make arrangements for the child’s welfare,” Conway explained.
Ross is scheduled to appear at the District ‘C’ Magistrate’s Court, Nevis on Tuesday (Feb. 2) to answer to the two charges, which is the first time in the history of the Federation that someone has been charged for such offences.
