Jean Rony arrested on return, taken to Detention Centre

JEAN Rony Jean-Charles

As of Monday, February 5, 2018

This story has been updated HERE.

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

Bahamas-born Jean Rony Jean-Charles was sensationally arrested and taken to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre this afternoon having returned to the country on a court-ordered and state-issued travel document.

His arrest follows an emergency stay of Supreme Court Justice Gregory Hilton's landmark ruling ordering his return, which Justice Hilton reportedly granted while Mr Jean-Charles was in the air travelling back to the Bahamas from Haiti.

Attorney General Carl Bethel confirmed to The Tribune he requested the stay after he learned Mr Jean-Charles' landing was "imminent".

Mr Bethel said Mr Jean-Charles' homecoming broke an agreement he made with his lawyer Fred Smith, to argue a stay of the order before a judge at 3pm on Monday.

Mr Smith emphatically denies making such an agreement and maintains he advised officials he would continue to try to bring his client back at the earliest opportunity. Infact the only knowledge the State had of Jean Reny's return was when Mr Smith notified them he was en route.

Mr Bethel said: "Senior counsel (Fred Smith) and I agreed we would argue before a judge at 3pm after lunch. He decides to bring the man in knowing that we have an application and the time, and knowing that if he did what he tried to do today it would have the effect of making government's application futile.

"The judge knowing that landing was imminent issued a stay of the order in these circumstances, thus making his landing unlawful, and he is subject to court further ruling on monday," Mr Bethel said.

Mr Jean-Charles travelled to the country on a Flamingo Air flight from Cap-Haitian, Haiti, which landed around 3pm.

He was stopped by Immigration officers and detained for nearly two hours before he was taken to a bus and transported to the CRDC.

The Tribune has the full exclusive inside story, pictures and video of Jean Rony's return which will be featured in Monday's edition and online.

See Monday’s Tribune for more.

jamaicaproud 6 years, 2 months ago

This is a disgrace. God is watching.

OldFort2012 6 years, 2 months ago

I disagree.

The illegal part of his deportation was that there was no court order. He is claiming that he is Bahamian and has produced certain documents to prove it. He has a case. It might be strong, it might be weak, it might be non-existent but he has a case that a judge should examine. He is entitled to his day in Court. He now has been brought back as per Court ruling. He will now have a chance to argue against his deportation as an illegal immigrant in front of a Court. As a suspected illegal immigrant, he is subject to arrest. He was properly arrested and charged. Bail will be decided on, then a trial date will be set.

This is perfectly normal and exactly what I would have done. In this case, I would commend the Government for doing what is legal and logical.

hrysippus 6 years, 2 months ago

Good sensible advice, I think.

licks2 6 years, 2 months ago

His lawyer is acting the fool and playing "not by the rules". . .he will only make it worse for the man. . .YALL ASK THAT THIS CASE IS PLAYED BY THE RULE OF LAW. . .HERE IT IS. . .RULE OF LAW!!

hnhanna 6 years, 2 months ago

We have to follow the law

TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago

Ma Comrade AG Carl Wilshire's move resulting in the "re arrest" and detainment of Jean Rony, may be seen as an assault against the constitution that could just turn Jean Rony, into the Bahamaland's first internationally recognized political prisoner. I wouldn't be shocked hear an angry loud cry from the international community at-large calling massive tourism boycott? Influential investors with public shareholders my want to shy away or postpone planned investments.

My2centz 6 years, 2 months ago

The issue is much larger than Jean Rony now. Political prisoner? Give me a break. There are still questions surrounding his legal documents and he was in fact residing and working illegally in the Bahamas. The real blow to the constitution would have been to actually abide by the justice's illegal ruling without challenge. The government is now only trying to save face because they were at first, blindly accepting of and its future implications.

licks2 6 years, 2 months ago

I WON'T EVEN TRY TO REASON WITH YOU. . .

jackbnimble 6 years, 2 months ago

I agree there’s something much bigger at play. If this nonsense goes through every anchor baby would be running around the Bahamas like they suddenly the shi*.! What kind of message are we sending? That you can run around our country without papers just because you’re born here and the Bahamas government cannot touch you? Give me a damned break!

This goes against the so-called rule of law that Freddy boy dem always piggy backing on

Hope this ruling is quickly overturned!!!

jamaicaproud 6 years, 2 months ago

Forget about all this talk about illegal and legal, Anyone who doesn't have a problem with the maltreatment and imprisonment of another human who has not been charged with any crime is sick.. After all it is not a crime to be born, except one is born to Haitians in the Bahamas. Don't waste time debating me, and please don't try to insult me(especially that sick bastard Sheeprunner), because none of you own the Tribune. To issue a document and place a guy under arrest or detention or what they choose to call it is sickening. You guys seem to think you operate in isolation. Thank God that even in the Bahamas, judges are not politicians. When the good judge comes home from church and finds out who defied his order, and some of those jokers are arrested...

You guys could have let Rony return and let it slide, but no, a whole can of worms has been opened, which will probably allow a precedent to be set. Is that what you all want.

OldFort2012 6 years, 2 months ago

He has been charged with a crime: being an illegal immigrant.

Where should they have put him up? In Baha Mar?

The Judge's order has been respected to the full. He is back. Now the process of determining his status can commence. If he is found innocent, he will receive citizenship and compensation. If guilty, he will be deported. What exactly upsets you?

My2centz 6 years, 2 months ago

Yes, we want people to abide by the constitution or work toward having it ammended. We cannot have vigilante justices and QCs applying their own rules, and making a mockery of the court system based on their personal beliefs or financial gain.

Jean Rony Jean Charles born in 1982 or 1985 is a Haitian who was allegedly born in the Bahamas, and he is not above the law. He needs to have his day in court where the laws are unbiasedly applied. And when the message is sent that birthright status is not the law and third party affadavits are not enough to identify someone...the minister or whatever immigration committee can then decide on his status.

licks2 6 years, 2 months ago

JUST STEP BACK FROM THE EMOTIONAL TIRADE. . .ITS CALL RULE OF LAW. YOU ROW ABOUT ONE JUDGE"RULING" BEING IGNORED AS AN INJUSTICE. . .WHILE ASKING US TO DISREGARD THE EMERGENCY STAY "RULING" OF ANOTHER JUDGE? THAT'S HOW THEM COOKIE CRUMBLE DUDE. YINNA WERE ASKING FOR A COURT APPEARANCE BEFORE DEPORTATION. . .NOW THAT'S WHAT YA GETTING AND YA MAD!

TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago

Ma Comrades, the red state was stretching the law the first time when arresting Jean Rony whilst out buy single cigarette. This time they just may have a political prisoner in their custody and without availing him his free movement this time go looking buy his single cigarette. When held against your will by the state it's called imprisonment. The red state cannot clam not be complicit in his arrest this time around, in fact, it is pretty damn clear that accept for donning the director of immigration's uniform - AG Carl Wilshire lead the arrest. This is what you'd have expected to read about a Robert Mugabe or Fidel Castro state. This bunch shirts must really believe they are indeed crown members of an Imperial red colony's cabinet. Think if they can restrict free movement of a Jean Rony, then why not your freedom?

My2centz 6 years, 2 months ago

You're the one stretching by labeling him a political prisoner. He is an illegal who got caught on a routine patrol. Immigration officers have the right to question, arrest and detain anyone suspected of living illegally in the country. The only thing they did wrong was not take him to court. But tomorrow he will have his day in court.

TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago

Ma Comrade My2cents,you're one one stretching to make the wrong narrative fit the facts which is not the size in this case. In fact, your shoe size is three sizes off. Ouch!

hrysippus 6 years, 2 months ago

lovely. 10 out of 10 and a gold star.

Emac 6 years, 2 months ago

Tal, please stop sensationalizing this matter and go to church! Oh and stop delving in things you really don't understand 😂😂😂

TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago

Ma Comrade Emac, done in church here courtesy ZNS TV online singling along with choir and spirit charged congregation Zion Baptist - just waiting receive morning sermon to renew my spirit take on this Imperial red state operating outside freedom go about buy single cigarette law.
Comrade Emac, their call-in prayer line confess your sins is 325-3556/1.
Good morning Churches across we Bahamaland!

Emac 6 years, 2 months ago

LMAO...

ohdrap4 6 years, 2 months ago

waiter, i will have what tal is drinking. thanks.

hrysippus 6 years, 2 months ago

Even lovelier.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 2 months ago

I would have had a chance to see TalRussell live on ZNS today ....... but ZNS was scrambled on my island ....... Lord Jesus, help Tommy solve ZNS problems!!!!!!!

Chucky 6 years, 2 months ago

Once again we have proven to the world what we are as a people and a country.

We deserve our reputation, it's well earned.

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 2 months ago

I am glad he is back in the Bahamas and I would have liked to see him return to his"normal" life. Hopefully his documents are found to be in order and he can be released.

However I also understand where the government is coming from. Had they done nothing they would have been inundated with thousands of applications and they would have no legal out.

If the government is interested in rectifying this problem they need to call a referendum to correct the loophole currently being exploited. I'm 100% confident that none of the drafters of the constitution intended for the children of illegal immigrants to be granted citizenship simply because they were born in the Bahamas. We cannot continue to allow people to hide in the country for 18 years or more then claim they know no other country.

If the international community is willing to give the Bahamas the billions necessary to stop the illegal immigration tidal wave and support the overburdened education and health care system then and only then can they ask us to do otherwise. Businesses are closing, people are losing jobs, unemployment is increasing and we are at junk status. Unfortunately you cannot help a drowning man by drowning yourself.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 2 months ago

What is the loophole you are referring to???????? ........ Where does it say in our Constitution that you can "hide out in our country for 18 years" and then become a citizen?????? ......... You must have a birth certificate, a MOH yellow card, a school record and showing that you can contribute positively to the country as a potential citizen ......... Except someone may sell it under the table ......... and then it is corruption & national betrayal

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 2 months ago

Clearly it doesn't matter if that language is in the constitution or not. Mr Symonette has already told you they are processing applications, I'm going to get these are not applications from persons who've left and gone back to Haiti when their parent's work permits expired.

licks2 6 years, 2 months ago

There is really no loop hole. . .and a referendum is what Mr. Smith is trying his hardest to avoid. . .HE WILL NEVER ALLOW THAT QUESTION TO GO BEFORE THE COURT. . .HE WILL GET A RULING THAT EVEN THE PC WILL NOT CHANGE! HE HAS NO CASE. . .HIS BIG MOUTH AND A POOR RULING BY AN ACTIVIST JUDGE HAS GOTTEN ALL OTHER PERSONS IN MR RONY'S CASE TO GET FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET!!

Chucky 6 years, 2 months ago

I see in the news that the Canadian Gov is discussing blocking Bahamians from immigrating /visiting for education to Canada as a response to our actions.

Guess the world really is watching.

Well not actually the government, but some members of parliament and public suggesting blocking Bahamian immigration to Canada., But either way it's the same thing.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 2 months ago

Canada is being glorified as one of the most "advanced" countries in the world ....... but it is indeed a great ambassador for Satan ....... the Canadian government has embraced everything that is contrary to The Bible ...... How can we continue to serve God and mammon??????? ........ We must choose whom we are to serve ........... Canada cannot be chosen as a real born again Christian's eternal (or earthly) home.

stillwaters 6 years, 2 months ago

Canadian citizens are also trying hard to figure out how to house and feed all the Haitians that illegally crossed into Canada, running from Trump. Haitians have been advised there that deportations will start soon. It's too overwhelming for Canadians.

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 2 months ago

To that I would say, they have the land and the jobs, can we set up a treaty with them where instead of repatriating illegal immigrants to Haiti we can send them to Canada. I'm almost positive the community would be willing to go

Emac 6 years, 2 months ago

Source???

licks2 6 years, 2 months ago

DIG INTO CANADA'S IMMIGRATION CASES WITH HAITIANS. . .ALL ARE SENT BACK POST HAST. . .LET THEM MPS TALK. . .CANADA DOES THE VERY SAME THING. . .THEY WILL NOT EVEN ALLOW IMMIGRANTS CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL IF THEIR PARENTS ARE ILLEGAL OR IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING STRAIGHT!

stillwaters 6 years, 2 months ago

They have a policy to deport irregulars, so they will rebrand Haitian illegals as irregulars and send them home....to Haiti..

TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago

This Ma Comrades will be recorded in the nation's history books as the weekend which the red state publicly acknowledged that they are the not the party of children's born at Princess Margaret Hospital... that travel at your own peril when doing so on a now declared useless Red State Travel Document.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 2 months ago

Israel is deporting Africans. Watsayu?

John 6 years, 2 months ago

In the main time the country is still waiting to see charges brought against the 30 persons arrested a week ago.

hrysippus 6 years, 2 months ago

Noe who are we to believe, Mr. Fred Smith or the Hon. Carl Bethel? I know which one I am inclined to believe and hopefully the truth will emerge in the fullness of time. What charge was he arrested on anyway? Illegal entry to the country via his mother's womb?

TheMadHatter 6 years, 2 months ago

hrysippus...the charge is not having proper travel documents. If you or i arrived on the same flight without our passports or even an nib card we would be held as well until we could show some identification.

John...yes those disappearing 30 persons who have no names and no dates of birth and no fingerprints. Yes those. We will never hear about them again i am certain.

Canada is a country near death, filled with terrorists in training and filling up more and more every day with the very scum of the Earth.

I have heard that gas prices were this week raised 20 cents per gallon in Abaco and the extra money will be allocated by the govt to pay for new homes for those affected by the shanty town fire. Hard to believe, and it's just a rumour - but i overheard it at the food store on Prince Charles two days ago, which was only a few days after the PM returned from visiting that same shanty town.

Back in 2008 when my uncle's house burned down, i dont remember any PM or Cabinet member visiting my uncle. But now i understand he was only a Bahamian citizen - not worth anyone's valuable time to worry about.

DEDDIE 6 years, 2 months ago

Why did the government wait so long too call for an emergency stay. An emergency stay should have been requested before the travel document was issued. It makes us look backwards as a country. Is his travel document valid or not valid. When a person comes on a flight and you deem him illegal or undesirable, you put him on the plane and send him back from where he came.You don't put him in a detention center. The situation has become political and politics always leads to mischief.

jamaicaproud 6 years, 2 months ago

This is the only comment close to sensible. Of course, people have their concerns and or biases and must live with that. However, it's disingenuous to prepare a document, let a guy get a ticket, then arrest the guy.

This can only be construed as being malicious and malice is never a good thing where international relations are concerned. There was a Jamaican fellow who lived in England since the 60's but never sorted his post-independence paperwork. He came home for a vacation after 50 years and found out he wasn't British. Anway after a newspaper appeal the British sorted him out, gave him documents and allowed him in. The link. The circumstances are different, however, the point is, don't issue an emergency document you don't intend to honor. The plight of a Haitian I guess. Their government does nothing to help prevent abuse of its citizens(Though this fellow is stateless). Their foreign ministry should not have allowed him to depart without an assurance he would be allowed entry. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/G...">http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/G...

joeblow 6 years, 2 months ago

You know this is a different issue than being born in a country to parents who are illegal WHEN their birth country gives you AUTOMATIC citizenship in their country! There is no comparison. You are simply attempting to stir up mischief!

Cas0072 6 years, 2 months ago

The only fair comparison in your little story is that both men were negligent in their duties to sort out their citizenship. Jean-Rony Jean-Charles is not stateless. He is an automatic Haitian citizen who was possibly born in the Bahamas or arrived as a child, the latter of which means he was not even entitled to apply for citizenship. It also explains why he provided false information to authorities and can't seem to remember his DOB.

Secondly, if countries with much more resources can get it wrong sometimes then so can the Bahamas. This is how the process gets improved.

Cas0072 6 years, 2 months ago

Clearly the FNM's plan was not to contest the ruling just like they failed to verify the questionable affidavit of their colleague, and had the AG himself defend the sketchy document. Perhaps the new director of immigration is as non-nonsense and by the book as they say. Only time will tell. The Outspoken QC must have known in advance when his client intended on travelling to Nassau and yet he chose to inform the AG while he was enroute? Not before hand? I am inclined to believe that the QC attempted to pull a fast one.

John 6 years, 2 months ago

Was this a case of bait and switch? Where government appears to rich to appease the rulings of the courts. Then as ‘the victim ‘ is on his way ‘home’, government does an about face and puts this man in detention center as a person without status. Just consider the psychological an emotional effects this must have on this man Rony. To be held by immigration for so long in the first instance. Then to have his documents rejected. Then to be expelled from The Bahamas and dumped in a strange and undesirable place. Then to be located after months af despair and lost hope. And to get news and a promise that he will be returning to the only country he knows and will be, at least regularised. Now only to be returned to the detention camp, seemingly where the saga started and again facing the possibility of being expelled again . The thing to bear in mind is if children are born in the Bahamas to illegals it is through no fault of their own. And if the authorities allow these children to stay in the country for 18, 20, even 35 years, The Bahamas makes itself more responsible for creating this problem of persons without status.. So they must either decide to deport these people as infants or small children back to the country of their parents so the children can adapt and adjust to the conditions and culture of that country. If not, and these individuals are allowed to stay in The Bahamas until they reach ages of maturity then Government makes itself responsible for granting some status to them.

John 6 years, 2 months ago

'Where the government appears to rush to appease..."

SP 6 years, 2 months ago

On the flip side of this coin, we are researching a few questions that government is attempting to keep covered.

Why aren't Bahamians being told that Haitians are responsible for the large outbreak of tuberculosis infections gripping the country, and how to protect themselves?

Who is the ring of hospital employees caught selling thousands of false birth documents to Haitians, were they fined, and is this what Brent Symonnett alluded to last week?

So far our findings are NOT GOOD!!

jamaicaproud 6 years, 2 months ago

How can hospitals sell false birth certificates. Doesn't the Bahamas have a computerized Registrar system for births, deaths and marriages?

John 6 years, 2 months ago

SP..you must stop being ingenious. False news does not help the cause

My2centz 6 years, 2 months ago

If you search you will find that story somewhere on this site. But I'm not surprised you didn't know, it died down very quickly. I can only assume no one was prosecuted, and no certificates being rescinded.

joeblow 6 years, 2 months ago

We are protective of our borders for the same reason you have a door on your home, to keep out those you don't want in! Your house may be nasty inside, but you still have a right to decide who comes through your doors!

Simple!

licks2 6 years, 2 months ago

SO PLEASE TELL WHY "YA PEOPLE" KEEP COMING HERE. . .TO A LAND OF DISGRACE? IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE RULE OF LAW JUST SAY SO!

Cas0072 6 years, 2 months ago

What an ignorant tirade. No country is perfect. You can always find reasons to be proud and reasons to be ashamed. The Bahamian gene pool is already quite diverse, including mixing with Haitians. Many of whom sit on their illegal hinds and can’t even be bothered to get their papers straight. Like many Bahamians they expect the government to do everything, like rebuild their illegal shacks. And it is bad enough when Bahamians feel that way, but illegal immigrants? However, I agree that the average Haitian is probably much better than you. Haitians don’t blast their shith@le of a country when things don’t go their way. They fly their failed flags high right through the garbage that they allow to pile up in their illegal communities. You could learn a lot from them since that is what you admire so much.

What’s really stupid is to pin these things on nationality. People who support illegal immigration always trot out this mess calling the locals lazy and stupid. If you believe that of yourself, I believe you.

Porcupine 6 years, 2 months ago

There is an adage, "Better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're a fool, than to open your mouth and prove it." If many people from the outside world read the posts on this article, we have done well to "prove it". I am so sorry for this nation. We had promise. I believe we are finished.

My2centz 6 years, 2 months ago

You prove this adage true. If you actually read the comments on international new sites on immigration, you would see their comments are similar or worse. No need for any Bahamian to feel guilty or ashamed in wanting to preserve the Bahamas for future generations of Bahamians.

John 6 years, 2 months ago

"Consider this; our population is generally lazy, fat/obese (obeastity would be a more fitting word for most), we're a very corrupt banana Republic like, nasty nasty people, and on top of all that we have a mostly stupid population."

Chucky*, one must assume you are speaking of the country and its people you left to come to the Bahamas from. You're sad.

John 6 years, 2 months ago

We deserved and needed to recieve that Asian tsunami in 2004, we'd be a better country if 250000 people were wiped off thse Islands.

Chucky; With people like you coming here, it confirms the Bahamas has a need to protect its people and its boarders, hate filled whore mongers plotting from every end...The Haitians may be the least of the Bahmsas worries when it comes to immigration.

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