By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
A MAN on bail on a firearm charge since 2019 told a court that his part-time employer, Golden Gates MP Pia Glover-Rolle, helped him start applying for citizenship after he fell foul of his bail conditions because he had no photo identification.
Nelson Paul, 29, of Allen Drive, was fined $1,000 and placed on probation for one year after pleading guilty to breaching his bail conditions by failing to sign in for 95 days between May 1 and October 14.
Paul declined legal representation when he appeared before Magistrate Abigail Farrington, telling the court he wanted the chance to explain his circumstances himself.
He said he had been on bail since 2019 for possession of an unlicensed firearm with intent to put another in fear, and had regularly complied with his bail conditions until he ran into difficulties with updated identification requirements.
He said he could no longer use his birth certificate to meet the requirements and did not have a photo identification card because he was not a citizen.
Paul said Mrs Glover-Rolle, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and National Insurance, stepped in after several of his attempts to resolve the matter failed, helping him begin the citizenship process and secure the documents he needed.
He said his citizenship application had since been approved, allowing him to pursue documents such as a passport and a National Insurance Board card. However, he said he still had to pay a separate $1,000 fee to obtain his official citizenship letter.
Paul presented supporting documents to the court and pleaded for leniency, telling the magistrate he was a single father.
Magistrate Farrington urged him to return to the court that granted him bail to address the problems with his bail conditions, and to pay the citizenship fee so he could obtain his letter and secure his identification documents.
She warned that violating his probation could result in him serving one year in prison.
The matter was adjourned to December 10.
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