NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley has recommended that three Haitian nationals who overstayed their visitors’ visas in The Bahamas be repatriated to their homeland after either paying the fines or serving the jail sentences.

The three Haitians — Yvens Gazena, 38, Cassandra Valde, 40, and Alain Lemour, 36 — all pleaded guilty to a charge of overstaying at their arraignment.

The court heard that Gazena, who was fined US$1,500, had overstayed her legal visit by one year, three months and five days. Failure to pay the fine would result in a six-month jail term.

Valde, who overstayed by seven months, was given the option of paying the US$750 fine or spending three months in prison, while Lemour, who spent almost two years in the country illegally, was fined US$1,500 with a default sentence of six months in prison.

Speaking through a Creole interpreter, Lemour told the chief magistrate that he didn’t have the money to pay. But the chief magistrate said that he could not reduce the fine and that Lemour could appeal his decision.

The magistrate later recommended the repatriation of the group upon either payment of their fines or the completion of their sentences.