Language barrier thwarts court proceedings for accused Albanians
The criminal proceedings against two men from Albania – a small coastal country in South-Eastern Europe – has been postponed due to a language barrier.
The men, Valdet Tafhasaj and Fatlind Cenaj were first brought before Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo for illegal entry on Wednesday. However, the proceedings had to be pushed to Thursday at 11 am because there were no Albanian interpreters present at court.
Magistrate DaBreo used the Google Translator application to communicate with the Albanian duo to inform them that they would be returning to court the next day.
On Thursday, when the matter was recalled — this time before Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin — there was an Italian interpreter present.
The court heard that one of the men spent four years in Italy and had a basic understanding of that country’s language. He would then be required to interpret what was being said by the court to his co-accused in their native tongue.
However, this brought a new issue into question. BVI News understands that it was against court protocol to have a defendant interpret for another defendant.
Another issue was the fact that Italian was not his first language. And after a more-than-one-hour recess, the magistrate said the matter would be recalled before the court for the third time next Monday.
“It will not be in the interest of justice to proceed without an Albanian interpreter,” Magistrate Benjamin argued.
She then said no effort would be spared in the court’s quest to obtain an independent Albanian interpreter for the proceedings. Magistrate Benjamin further ordered that the accused men — who have been in police custody since they were first arrested on Monday — be remanded at Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsam Ghut.
The men are represented by attorney-at-law Leroy Jones.
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It is best to deport/release them, the cost to find and bring into the BVI an interpreter for such a minor offense will not make financial sense.
That the Albanians have made it to the BVI shores. Those Albanians are a rough set. Hope the gypsies don’t start heading that way.
That won’t happen; the Virgin Islands was never a part of the E.U as St.Martin, Guadeloupe and Martinique is and even if was those islands are not in the Shengen area so don’t expect to see Romani Gypsies and Eastern Europeans here.
Oh but the honorable vague wants to be part of the EU.
Keep them out!
F off
Why did they enter illegally and how did they do so? When writing these stories how about some background. They obviously passed through other countries to get here. Even if they sailed all the way they had to resupply. So….. instead of writing a story about no translator give the background. Further, kick them out and be done with them. That’s what the US does under Trump and it’s working!!! B
Are u native American because otherwise if your ancestors were treated with the same ignorant ideology when they smuggled themselves in this country several hundred years ago under some refugee B’s they would have ended up in some monarchs mass graves in Europe you stupid fool. If someone is putting so much effort and money to get here you should think on how to reep the benefits unless you feel threaten by a coupe of people who don’t even speak your language . I guess I answered my own question…my bad.
I agree ?. Glad to see bvi at least believes in some human rights.
Minor or major offense, doesn’t matter. It’s a grave violation of someone’s human rights to charge them with/convict them of a crime when they don’t understand the proceedings. They’re doing the right thing by finding an interpreter.
Deport him!
Are u native American because otherwise if your ancestors were treated with the same ignorant ideology when they smuggled themselves in this country several hundred years ago under some refugee B’s they would have ended up in some monarchs mass graves in Europe you stupid fool. If someone is putting so much effort and money to get here you should think on how to reep the benefits unless you feel threaten by a coupe of people who don’t even speak your language . I guess I answered my own question…my bad.
Albanians???
all they have to do is down load the language app
Internationally there are very reliable phone services that could be contracted for the case – they are frequently used by the NHS in the UK when a translation is needed. We don’t need to bring anyone here – it’s 2020, use the technology that’s available. A speakerphone in the courthouse and a few hours of translating service is the only expense we should incur.
The language apps don’t work well, especially with intricate language. They may have a simple paperwork error, not necessarily illegal entry. I’m sure in time they could find someone via telephone.
All you have to do is learn to spell “download”.
Given all this its would be a good opportunity for a BVI lander to peruse a career as a court interpreter in many languages . Give a few scholarships for court interceptors because we are living in a global world and we will see lots more of these cases with Chines, French and many more foreign language offenders.
That’s too hard so won’t happen.
1. There are BVIslanders living in BVI married to Albanians.
2. Proficiencies in other languages has unfortunately never been encouraged or facilitated by our myopic sighted government. Counting from 1-20 in Spanish will not cut it.
So much competentinterpretors in the xountry and the courts still.struggling g to find one.
It is too easy for persons to enter illegally into the BVI this is really bad
Albanians play hard ball. The BVI authorities dear not allow them into the BVI. They are hardcore. Drugs, prostitution, money laundering, human trafficking, guns, You name it.
I’m surprise that they are in the BVI, they run some of the most vicious gangs in the City. No one mess with the Albanians, they are tough, they do not play around.
Did your mother tell you that. Ignorant.
Yea, I watched that movie too smh…
Language barrier my A$$ …. they could well peak the engis
You clearly can’t.
I speak the language fluently and could assist but i don’t think they will pay for my flight there and back…i did this for the court in the BVI many years ago this time was in spanish to english.
These “minor offences” were intended to have major impacts. If you think these guys just illegally entered the BVI to enjoy our beaches you’ll be wrong.
GOOD LUCK
These are very serious comments. Let’s hope that only two so far entered and were caught.
They cannot speak the language, they enter the Country the illegal way, the best thing to do is put them on a flight and let them go.
Mr Penn in prison doing time, He can speak eleven languages why not let be the interpret for the court?
Yeah Albanians mother lover,learn some geography,the oldest nation in Europe.
No matter how many times you deport them they will enter again and again I used to enter Europe as many times as I wanted when I was on my teens every time I got arrested next week I would go back make a couple hundred thousand dollars and go to different country live i live my life my way not what this countries want.
No one like to be hated or being told that you are bad person because everyone is not the same. Maybe they are here for a better reason to be safe and have a descent future. However if our gov do search for their backgrounds and they are sound then they should have a chance as they haven’t done anything wrong suppose they are not crimmimals otherwise they would of been in prison and sent back without being mentioned here. Just saying before you guys start judging my opinion..
What’s with all of the discriminating and calling about the Albanians? Everyone needs to look at themselves on a mirror and see what kind of a person you are. Making discriminating remarks of others that you you’d even know who they are isn’t right at all to do that. I’ve also seen a lot of misspelled words in your writing. It’s not for labeling someone without knowing them.
Exactly they just want to say something they dont know nothing LOL
Desperation must have been high to go all the way to BVi
Clearly there are Albanian Interpreters available by phone. These guys don’t know Italian at all not sure why they even brought one . They will be deported back to Albania period
We are aware of the damnjng situation I Tiarana no jobs for young people and a corrupt government that unfortunately means it cant join the EU… it’s sad because Albanians are a kind nation of people
F*** serbia
There are lot of Albanian/English interpreters around they just dont want to be involved in that. and yes lot of Albanians speak Italian they might understand some. Anyway at this time 2020 just use a translater it might not translate 100% but they will get the point if you translate some of it and the rest I’m pretty sure they will understand,
Suck my **** all u racist
The fact that your so called great nation was built on immigration I’m amused by these racist comments. There are bad people in all races dont get it twisted.
Google translate works just fine
They were most likely involved in perverse adventure.
TOO MANY EUROPEANS ARE POURING IN
how is Mr Jones representing them? do he speak albanian?
“Albania – a small coastal country in South-Eastern Europe”.
Seriously? Does BVINEWS think we are so stupid that we don’t know where Albania is? With our amazing standard of education, surely they should know… Oh wait….