(Antigua Sun) – A Guyanese woman was deported from Antigua last week after she pleaded guilty to remaining in the state after the expiration of a permit granted to her by the Immigration Department.
Deon Andrea Lewis appeared in the St John’s Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Ivan Walters. Lewis had been out of time from 10 June to 30 June this year.
The court heard that on 30 June immigration enforcement officers while on duty at the St John’s Magistrates’ Court met Lewis and asked her about her passport. The officers reportedly had previously visited her home but were unable to locate her.
Lewis of Villa presented the immigration officers with two Republic of Guyana passports, one bearing her name (Deon Andrea Lewis) and the other bearing the name Mark Hubert Pluck.
Upon reviewing the contents of her passport, it was noted that her permit to remain in the country had expired on 9 June.
The immigration officers asked Lewis to accompany them to immigration headquarters where she was told that she had committed an offence.
Lewis was asked to give a written statement which she did. The Guyanese woman was arrested and charged.
She was released from immigration custody and told to report to the St John’s Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 6 July.
Asked to explain why she had not sought to get an extension, Lewis told the court she did not have anything to say.
Lewis, despite being deported, was released from custody so as to allow her to collect her personnel effects.
The mother of two told the court she did not have the finances to purchase her tickets.
