Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
Annette McCalla Paulisto, the wife of Honduran Ricardo Paulisto who was arrested by police on March 23, holds her daughter Andischa Paulisto. Also with her at the family home in Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, are daughters Kenya Williams (front left), Haniesha Paulisto (front right). and Princess Williams (back). - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WITH THE horror of the night of March 23 still fresh in her mind, Annette McCalla Paulisto, is pleading with the authorities to legalise her husband, Honduran Ricardo Andi Paulisto, so that her family can get back to a normal way of living.
Mr. Paulisto was among 65 men who were taken off fishing vessels during a police operation in the waters of Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine on that day. Fifty nine were Hondurans while the other six were nationals of the Dominican Republic.
Nearly three months after Mr. Paulisto's arrest and the couple's marriage, the distressed mother of four is pleading with the authorities to move to legalise her husband's status in the country.
"Mi waan dem fi try finish the court quick mek him get fi go work so dat him can help the kids dem fi go school," the concerned mother said.
She told The Gleaner that, since the arrest and subsequent release of Mr. Paulisto by the authorities, two of her children, who were enrolled in school, have yet to return.
BREADWINNER
"Tings hard, very, very hard ... dem two kids here fi go school and because him nah go sea dem cyaan go school and dis one must go September but mi nuh know how it a go work out." she said.
Mrs. Paulisto, who is a housewife, said her husband was the breadwinner for the family but that, due to his court dates, he is unable to make his fishing trips that normally amount to some 20 days.
Meanwhile Mr. Paulisto, who barely speaks English, told The Gleaner the court proceedings have severely hampered his livelihood (fishing) which is the only one he has known.
"Mi do a little fishing in the near sea, catch fish and lobster, but it nuh enough fi mek enough money fi do everything fi mi family," he said. "A sea work mi do, mi nuh know land work."
An Immigration official in the Jamaica Constabulary Force said the reason for the delay in Mr. Paulisto's case was that his defence was unable to present his passport to prove that he had landed in Jamaica legally.
"When he returns to court on the 19th of this month, he should present his marriage certificate," the official suggested.
