Jailed American wants to stay in Belize

We first got to know Steven Griffith back in November of last year when the fifty-two year old resident of Unitedville participated in that village’s unique celebration of Garifuna Settlement Day. Unfortunately for the transplanted U.S. citizen, life in the months following that party has been less enjoyable. Griffith has languished in Hattieville prison since March, caught in a complex legal conundrum that theoretically could keep him behind bars indefinitely.

It seems that Griffith, who has lived in Belize since 1996, never did attain any legal status here…and in February was arrested on immigration charges. Magistrate Earl Jones ordered Griffith expelled from the country… and that should have been the end of it, particularly since the U.S. Embassy was prepared to assist with his airfare. But there was only one problem: Griffith didn’t want to go anywhere… and certainly not back to the States. He said he loved Belize, wanted to spend his life here and even destroyed his U.S. passport, offering to renounce his U.S. nationality.

On Thursday, Griffith and his attorney Dickie Bradley were in the Supreme Court appealing the Magistrate’s ruling and asking that Griffith be granted bail. Bradley argued that Griffith could hardly be considered a flight risk since the entire thrust of his claim is that he wants to stay in Belize. He further argued that the offence of illegally entering the country occurred nine years ago and the statute of limitations had long since run out.

To that, Prosecutor Kamar Henry retorted that the Magistrate’s order says that Griffith must remain in prison until he complies with the expulsion order and that his offence is what is called a continual breach, with no statute of limitations. Griffith, she said, has never even bothered to apply for citizenship and if he wants the court’s help he must come with clean hands.

In the meantime, any dancing done by Steven Griffith will take place within the confines of his cell in Hattieville. Justice Michelle Arana has reserved judgment until July fifteenth when she will issue a written ruling in what can only be called one of the Supreme Court’s more unusual cases.