Jamaican pastor, Uriah Thomas, along with now three fellow worshippers have been granted bail after pleading guilty to failure to comply with the 25-person restriction.
On Monday, Taylor pleaded guilty to failure to comply with public health regulations banning gatherings in excess of 25 people.
Church member Alston Stoner reportedly pleaded guilty to obstruction, resisting arrest and battery on police.
Additionally the two other church-goers who came forward were Eric Rattary, a forty-one-year-old barber, and Jennifer Kenton, a 61-year-old pastor from Jamaica who was visiting the island for a funeral.
Bail for Kenton was set at $3,000 with a $1,500 cash component, and she was required to have two local sureties. She must also report to St John’s Police Station three days a week and surrender her passport.
Rattary’s bail was $2,000 with a $1,000 cash component. He too must be accompanied by two sureties and must report to Johnson’s Point Police Station three days a week. The local barber was also asked to surrender both his Antiguan and Jamaican passports.
Taylor was ordered to pay $4,000 with a cash component of $2,000 and must have two Antiguan sureties should he wish to roam free. He is required to report to the Police Headquarters three times a week and has to turn in his Antiguan passport.
Stoner was also released on $3,000 bail, and was ordered to pay $1,500 forthwith and have two Antiguan sureties. The 33-year-old Jamaican national also has to hand his passport and work permit over to the court and report to the Police Headquarters three times a week.
Attorney at law, Sherfield Bowen, represented all four and said he will be making a submission on behalf of his clients, challenging the legality of their charges and the social distancing regulations under the Public Health Act.
Bowen was asked to tender his submission by April 14 after which the prosecution will be given until April 24 to respond.
The four will then return to court on May 5 for the magistrate’s decision.
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Violators of the law of the country should be dealt with regardless whoever you are……. However what goes for Peter should go for Paul…. The man of the cloth along with some of his fellow worshippers breached the law of the land, and rightly so, they were reprimanded to prison…… At the same time, at a beach, some party revellers also committed the same offence as the pastor & his followers, I am yet to understand why wasn’t anyone and moreso the organizer of the beach party was not arrested? Our legal system should not be bias or prejudice to one or the other… Again what goes for Peter should go for Paul.
Maybe cause they did not behave like the pastor and the rest of the church people.
Persecution for righteousness is honourable, but this is a stain on the cause of Christ and a disgrace to the Gospel. Before God and man these lawbreakers are looked upon as ignorant, certainly not “God’s anointed”. At least they finally admit their guilt. They do the crime. Now they must do the time. Anyone involved with this disaster should look for another church that is truly a “New Testament” church.
Jamaicans… they can’t behave anywhere they go. Not even in church.
It is a pity this has to come to this…..I am DISAPPOINTED in the Pastors. Abide by the LAWS of the Land.
Jamaicans continue to have no respect for the laws of Antigua and Barbuda. I’m sure it’s nothing personal against our country. Just their nature. How long must we continue to suffer from the rape, robbery, murder, theft, extortion and all sort of badness from these people?
I’m not sure if it’s in the “nature” of Jamaicans to have “all sort of badness”. I have met some who are upstanding men and women, people of conscience, respectful, and very Christian.
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