Schooling woes for 17-y-o concern Josephs

Edume Joseph, the wife of former Haitian Senator John Joel Joseph, expressed concern through a translator on Tuesday that their 17-year-old son, who is in custody at the Horizon Adult Facility, has not been attending school.

That concern was ventilated when the illegal entry case against the Joseph family was mentioned at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.

It was disclosed that their nine-year-old son, who is in state care, has been attending school since their apprehension on January 14.

Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole Montague told the family that provisions will be made for Schopenhauer, who turns 18 on September 25, to be transferred to Metcalfe Juvenile Remand Centre where he could be enrolled in classes there.

Schopenhauer and his father, the court was told, were cellmates, along with two other inmates, at the Horizon Adult Remand Centre.

Attorney-at-law Donahue Martin, who represents the Josephs, told the court he was awaiting correspondence from the Ministry of National Security regarding his clients.

He requested that the matter be adjourned for two weeks as an application was sent to the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) concerning their status.

The Gleaner understands that the application surrounds leave for asylum for Edume and the children.

John Joel is allegedly linked to the July 7, 2021, assassination of then Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

Mr Joseph, who spoke in court for the first time, said his wife was sick and that both of them have not been able to sleep much while in detention.

The former politician told Senior Parish Judge Cole Montague that he would like to see the process finished for his family.

During Tuesday’s sitting, Edume, on several occasions, used an inhaler and was given water to drink.

They were further remanded until March 3.

“That little fellow there what is his name… How is he today? Enquire from him how he is feeling? You can let the little boy stand up beside his mother. I would never want to be in a courtroom and I am here and my child is there,” said Judge Cole Montague.

The nine-year-old responded that he was okay and he was allowed to stand outside the dock in proximity to his family.

Mr Joseph, through his attorney, requested the court to grant him more time, although he is not part of the PICA process, so that he could support his family when the outcome is decided.

“I will keep them all together so that on every occasion that the matter is mentioned before me you will all be together,” explained Judge Cole Montague.

“May God bless you.”

Before they were taken away from the courtroom, Cole Montague asked the court officers to allow the Josephs two minutes together.

According to investigators, Mr Joseph was listed among five fugitives for whom Haiti’s Justice Minister, Rockefeller Vincent, said the country would offer six million gourdes for their arrest.

Another key suspect in the Moïse assassination, ex-Colombian military officer Mario Antonio Palacios, was deported from Jamaica on January 3 in keeping with an order by the Supreme Court here after his immigration breach conviction.

Palacios was intercepted in Panama by US law-enforcement agents and taken to Florida, where he was charged with various crimes related to Moïse’s assassination.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com