Trafficker says sorry

Vincentian All-Dain Allendee Bristol who trafficked 168 kilos of cannabis into Barbados for financial gain has apologised to the people of this country.

And for his crime Justice Randall Worrell today sentenced the non-national to eight years in prison. However, Bristol only has 12 months remaining to serve on that sentence after the judge took into consideration a number of factors including the time he has already spent on remand.

Bristol and another man were found with the illegal substance worth $675, 500 within the territorial waters of Barbados on March 14, 2016.

“To the people of Barbados I am truly and emotionally very sorry for the crime that I have committed in your country, to the citizens and to everyone. Also to the pain. . . that [I caused] to my family, my children and everybody that dependent on me right now.

“During desperation and time of need I chose this and it was the wrong choice that I made. I entered a choice that would be detrimental to my life and painful to my family. I want to say I am very sorry to everyone again and I hope if I get a chance I could go home and be a father to my children,” he told the No. 2 Supreme Court today after his attorney Safiya Moore made submissions on sentencing on his behalf.

Justice Worrell pointed out that the cannabis found in Bristol’s possession was a “great amount”. He also stated that while the illegal drug did not perforate into the Barbadian society there was no doubt on the impact it could have had.

“In nearly every presentencing report, though many may criticise me, it seems to me that the genesis of a lot of the problems of those who come before the court would seem to start with cannabis, with marijuana. It has also been said that when one looks in society, one may see . . . that there maybe many persons high in society who may or may not have also used cannabis. We also take cognisance that yes there are persons who are functioning alcoholics but many have come before the court and what it speaks to is that clearly this is having a negative effect,” the judge said.

Taking into consideration Bristol’s early guilty plea the judge deducted a third of the eight-year sentence and also credited him for his 38 months already spent on remand. The mitigating and aggravating factors were also taken into account, which saw his sentenced reduced by a further 14 months leaving him with 12 months in prison.