By IANTHIA SMITH
Foreign Affairs Minister Brent Symonette (Journal file photo)
The nine Bahamian straw vendors who were arrested and charged in New York with possession of counterfeit goods may not be coming home anytime soon.
A United States judge granted several of the vendors bail.
The problem is it must be paid in cash.
Foreign Affairs Minister Brent Symonette confirmed yesterday that about five of the Bahamians who were arrested on Saturday were granted bail on Monday while the others were due back in court Tuesday.
"The issue for the four or five of them is that bail varies between $5,000 and $20,000," he said. "There’s also the issue of being confined to the south-eastern portion of New York, obviously wearing an ankle bracelet or some sort of bracelet until their trial comes about, which is estimated to be in about six months, it could take that long."
"So there’s now the question of where they are going to stay and can they afford to stay."
Making matters even worse, he said the vendors are also required to provide surety, which could be in the range of $100,000 as they are considered to be a flight risk.
The group was charged with violating Section 2320 of the United States Code, which deals with trafficking counterfeit goods.
They were arrested at the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York after checking into a Jet Blue flight to head back home.
However, a 17-year-old girl and another woman, who officials say may not have been directly involved in the matter, were released.
Mr. Symonette said the issue now being raised is of the government’s role in the matter and if will it will help the embattled straw vendors.
But, Mr. Symonette said this is not usually the case.
"When we as Bahamians go to another country we have to abide by their laws," he said. "You cannot come to The Bahamas Government and say, ‘Oh, please help me, I have broken the law of another country’."
"And I’m not just referring to the straw vendors. We had a situation of someone in the Far East overstaying. Put it in reverse, if someone comes to The Bahamas and overstays they are picked up and deported. There are rules in different countries and we have to respect them."
He said he hopes this situation sends a stern message to other Bahamians who might land themselves in problems overseas.
"I want Bahamians to please realise that if you go to the United States and contravene their law, your visa will probably be cancelled, which means you cannot get back to the United States," he added.
"And this is something that the U.S. Embassy in Nassau cannot deal with; your application is sent to Washington. This is not something that the minister of foreign affairs can help you with."
Mr. Symonette continued, "I know people who have been without visas without 10 years and cannot go to the United States. So I really want Bahamians to think seriously about these things, rather than merely get into difficulties and expect everything to be all right. The Bahamas Government cannot come to the assistance of every single person who breaches the law of another country."
If the group is convicted, they could lose their visas.
If that happens, each of the vendors would have to wait 10 years to get the visas back.
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