The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THREE Bahamian women appeared in Magistrate’s Court yesterday prepared to present certificates to validate their marriages to three of four Dominican men seeking bail ahead of their trial for illegal fishing.

However, Magistrate Andrew Forbes told the spouses of Noel Vasquez, 22, Pedro Diaz, 27, and Juan Garcia, 36, that he could not proceed with the bail hearing because the accused had not been brought to court because of a technical issue.

The Department of Immigration was also absent from the proceedings. The department had been asked by the magistrate to produce evidence of the four Dominicans’ applications for spousal permits.

Vasquez, Diaz, Garcia, and Nathaniel Peralta, 28, were to appear to learn if they would get bail ahead of their February 16, 2015 trial for illegal fishing.

They, along with Manaces Lora, 47, and Haitian Jeantal Nicholas pleaded not guilty to illegally fishing in Bahamian waters between September 28 and October 4 when they were recently arraigned.

Kendal Rahming, a Department of Immigration prosecutor, confirmed to Magistrate Andrew Forbes that the five Dominicans were all married to Bahamian citizens, but only Mr Lora had a spousal permit.

He said applications for the other Dominicans were still pending before the Immigration Department.

Mr Rahming also confirmed that Nicholas had a work permit that was valid until 2016.

Magistrate Forbes granted bail to Lora and Nicholas, but adjourned the question of bail for the remaining defendants to give their spouses and the Immigration Department time to provide the court with evidence of their legal status. The bail hearing is now scheduled for today at 1pm.