Canadian woman fined on first trip to Barbados

A first-time visit to Barbados did not turn out anything like a 29-year-old Canadian woman had hoped.

Instead of enjoying the island, Ashley May Turner-Petawaysin who was caught at the Grantley Adams International Airport with 48 packages of marijuana is on remand at Dodds trying to pay a $15 000 fine.

The resident of 26 Norwood Road, Toronto, Ontario appeared before Magistrate Deidre McKenna on Monday on charges of possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking, and importation of 53.9 pounds of cannabis.

“I plead guilty,” she quietly said when the first charge was read to her in the Oistins Magistrates’ Court.

Turner-Petawaysin arrived in the country on an Air Canada flight on January 28, according to the facts of the case read to the court by Station Sergeant Peter Barrow.

He said the Canadian cleared immigration, retrieved her luggage, and after she was interviewed by Customs, a search was done of a blue suitcase and 23 vacuum-sealed packages were found while another 25 packages were discovered in a pink suitcase. She was handed over to the police.

In mitigating on the convicted woman’s behalf, attorney-at-law Neville Reid told the court his client denied knowing that the illegal substance was in the suitcase when she was interviewed, but she took full responsibility for the offence.

“She was invited here by a person she considered a very close friend, also a Canadian, who was here on holiday [who] asked her if she wanted to have a vacation in Barbados [and told her] she would pay for the vacation for her. She consented and the only requirement was to bring along these two suitcases, which she did. It was delivered to her already packed. She had no knowledge of what was in them,” he said, adding that the law was explained to his client and she accepted responsibility and cooperated fully with officers at the Narcotics Department.

The defence lawyer said his client is a student who is pursuing a multidisciplinary degree, in hopes of becoming a researcher, and this was her first occasion visiting Barbados.

“She readily accepted an opportunity to do so . . . to her detriment,” Reid said.

He added that his client was “basically unemployed” as she receives assistance from her family as she pursues her studies.

“Her family is one of poor means,” he said, even as he disclosed that Turner-Petawaysin had never been charged before in her homeland, did not waste the court’s time, and cooperated fully with the police.

“The substance which was intended for the streets of Barbados has been confiscated. It is unfortunate she finds herself in these circumstances. Sometimes these things happen when you put blind trust in people that you call your friends,” Reid further submitted.

He urged the court to impose a fine on his client.

“A fine on the lower scale [given] now the complete shift in the way people view drug offences. Yes, it is still illegal in Barbados and the law is the law. Asking to give a fine . . . that is not out of her means,” the lawyer added.

For importing the marijuana into Barbados, Turner-Petawaysin was fined $10, 000 forthwith or the alternative of 12 months in prison.

On the trafficking charge, a $5,000 immediate fine was imposed with the same alternative to run concurrently.

Turner-Petawaysin was reprimanded and discharged on the possession with intent to supply charge and convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the possession charge.

The convicted woman was remanded to Dodds as the fine had not been paid by the end of the court sitting. Once the money is paid, she will be handed over to Immigration.