Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

No court appearance yet for popular fishermen arrested & charged

Well-known local fishermen from the western end of Tortola, Albert Stoutt (right) and his sons Andrew (left) and Zacchari (centre) were reportedly arrested and charged on Friday, March 20, 2026, with two counts of Using a Prohibited Method of Fishing. Photo: VINO/File
The arrest of the Stoutts has upset many in the community and once again raises fresh debate about spearfishing and the use of scuba diving equipment for fishing. Photo: Internet Source
The arrest of the Stoutts has upset many in the community and once again raises fresh debate about spearfishing and the use of scuba diving equipment for fishing. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- In a strange twist of events, the three fishermen recently charged for allegedly using illegal fishing methods showed up at the Magistrate’s Court on Friday, May 7, 2026, as was required of them; however, their matter was reportedly not listed on the court docket for the day’s proceedings.

Popular local fishermen Albert Stoutt and his sons Andrew and Zacchari were arrested and charged on Friday, March 20, 2026, with two counts of Using a Prohibited Method of Fishing.

Police stated in a press release on March 25, 2026, that the Stoutts were granted bail in the sum of $1,500 and were scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on May 7, 2026.

The Stoutts showed up for court but…

According to reports reaching our News Centre, however, the Stoutts turned up for their court matter but were told their matter was not listed for that day.

After a certain time had expired, the fishermen were reportedly instructed by their lawyer to leave the courthouse.

It is unclear what the issue was, as neither the Police Information Officer, Akia L. Thomas, nor the Case Manager at the Magistrate’s Court, Devaurne Tyson, responded to our request for clarification

See link to related articles below:

Popular local fishermen arrested for allegedly using illegal fishing methods

'We can't fish in our own waters?'- Skelton-Cline on the Stoutt's arrest

13 Responses to “No court appearance yet for popular fishermen arrested & charged”

  • ? (11/05/2026, 16:11) Like (31) Dislike (0) Reply
    So, they weren't given a warning for the first charge, and just watch, the court will have them going back and forth for months with postponement after postponement. Can the courts be charged with fines for wasting people's time, time and time again?

    I bet the police wouldn't charge these people showing their half-naked bodies in public for indecent exposure.
    If you're going to enforce the law and crack down, why not go all the way, why stop at prohibited fishing?
  • don (11/05/2026, 17:45) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    Free the drew free the fisher men
  • jerome (11/05/2026, 18:50) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    The court screwed up. How could they waste these men's time with a court date that the court doesn't have listed for that day? Give these men back the money they paid because they were issued a fine without any prior warning. Who is running this court system? So the men can go back fishing the old way to make a living, since that is not against the law?
  • Hum (11/05/2026, 19:28) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Stupid as it can be
  • Ha,ha (11/05/2026, 19:30) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    You should sue the government for loosing so much money not fishing
  • ?? (12/05/2026, 06:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's not what you know...........
  • Tabloid Reporter. (12/05/2026, 06:37) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Magistrate court has seven sitting Magistrates and it takes years for a simple matter to be heard/completed or get transfer to the Supreme Court! Meanwhile the Supreme Court has only 2 sitting Criminal Judges, 1 Civil Judge and 2 Commercial Judges, and still get more cases completed than the Magistrate Court.
  • Lawless (12/05/2026, 08:09) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
    only lawless people does complain about breaking the law, all Ayo is hypocrites follow the law, you think they didn't know they was breaking it. GYMS, Play a stupid game Win a stupid prize.
  • waste of time (12/05/2026, 08:24) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply

    These men should be set free. This case is bogus and should be thrown out. The magistrate court has always been a joke and wasted people's time. **m** is the biggest culprit of these actions. She has no respect for the court or people's time. The deputy governors office is over the magistrate court but Archer being who he is. Mr fly under the radar when the heat is turned up... can't tell she nothing!!!! Big mouth soft like melting butter. Leave de mam dem alone. None of you feed or fed not even a quarter of the people they have over the years by giving away their catch to those who can't afford to buy. You set of new wanna be police men ruining our islands, villages, culture and communities cause you looking ranks and bvi status. Whether your from here or not it makes no difference all the same. The force talks community policing but all they do is walk through the villages like tin men or like a drive by for the lazy ones who dont get out the AC jeeps and trucks. Again the magistrate court is one of the worst systems in the bvi. No order no care no respect!!!!! Ran by the deputy governors office, and he thinking on running for election? Please. FIRE **M** AND GAIN A BIT OF RESECT AND DIGNITY. THE SAME WAY YOU FIRED OR GOT RID OF ANYA OR WHATEVER THE SHORT CUTE ONE HAD NAME!!!

    • Administrative (13/05/2026, 03:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      No court date, you are quick to blame everyone in Government for an administrative error, then jump on Magistrate, Deputy Governor, and the opinion of who should run this country. Talk about how spare fishing was made illegal in our country where our native dish is fish and fungi and the method used to catch fish in the past. One little bony yht man come and tell our leaders spare fishing and catching sharks are bad for the environment and we jumped on it without considering the culture of our people, while they are harbouring sharks to bite us up when we go in our waters. Get that law off the books and let our people continue to make a living from fishing.
  • please (12/05/2026, 11:19) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    so what happen i have seen spare fishing from a child! leave the fishermen alone and look for the criminals which could be anyone of us! Jail and arrest is not the answer folks . Tortola need to be more sanitary it's too dirty from East End to West End focus on that or the plagues will set in. stop the nonsense. tHE WELL TO DOO ALWAYS DONT WANT THE PEOPLE TO FLORISH WHILE THE other people in the community to suffer that is evil grudge lost of respect.
  • Respect to the law (12/05/2026, 14:23) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    Sorry I have to disagree with many here. The law is there for a reason not just to “harass” ppl. We live in a hurricane zone spare fishing is know for damaging these reef that will help protect us and our coast line during storms and hurricanes. Also hold as a nursery for young fishes.
    • @Respect to the law (12/05/2026, 16:29) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      How much spare fishing really goes on in the VI? I believe this is a yachting community agenda more than anything else. Can't control the northern shores that many have already destroyed but trying to control ours. We have been managing just fine!


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.