2 Jamaican women fined heavily and deported from Antigua following scuffle with immigration officer

Two women from Jamaica got into a heated argument with an immigration officer at the VC Bird International Airport. During the argument, one of those women ripped off the sleeves of the officers’ uniform, resulting in heavy fines, charges, and an order for the deportation of those women from Antigua.

This incident is reported to have taken place on Sunday, 1^st September 2024. The two women have been identified as Alicia Ricketts and Renea Nelson and the immigration officer is Tiffany Ramsey. As per the reports, when Ramsey refused to allow the women to enter the airport, they both got indulged in a confrontation with her, causing havoc all around the airport.

While both the ladies were taken into custody, Nelson started acting weird, yelling and creating chaos all over the airport. The situation got more serious when Ricketts assaulted the officer by tearing off the blouse of the uniform she was wearing.

The duo was later taken to the District B of the Magistrate’s court with Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel presiding. The Attorney General’s Chambers, Chandera Codrington was appeared on behalf of the Immigration Department.

During the hearing, both the women were pleaded guilty where Ricketts was asked to pay the fine of $400 for battery. On the other hand, she was discharged and reprimanded for the malicious damage. In addition to, she was also fined $500 for resisting arrest. She was fined under a condition that she had to pay all this within a period of 7 days or else she will be imprisoned.

Moreover, Nelson was pleaded guilty for her disorderly conduct and for the same, she was asked to pay the fine of $250 within a period of three days or else she will be imprisoned.

Following all these fines and charges, the Immigration Department requested the court about the deportation of both women, which was upheld by the court. Therefore, both the women were asked to leave and return to Jamaica aboard the first available flight.

After the incident went viral on social media, the citizens took to their social media accounts and expressed their views through their comments. One person commented, “You people are going to cause the government to ban Jamaicans from coming to their County with all these things which you are doing in Antigua. Good behaviour is best for you all.”

“These two making bad for others who want to come and make good of them self-shame on you two,” wrote another user.

Also, some of the netizens have also lauded the Prime Minster of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne for upholding on his commitment to enhancing security measures in order to curb any crime activity in the country.