Caribbean Star pilot nabbed with counterfeit currency in St Vincent
Shaan Brandford
(Photo courtesy SVG
authorities)
by Sarrah Hadeed
Caribbean Net News Antigua-Barbuda Correspondent.
E-mail: sarrahhadeed@yahoo.com
Monday, June 20, 2005
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Officials at Caribbean
Star Airlines have moved speedily to make it clear that the airline was not in
anyway connected to the actions of a St Lucian-born pilot, Shaan Branford, who
flies for the airline and has been charged by authorities in St. Vincent and
the Grenadines with possession of US$3,400 in counterfeit currency.
Police in St Vincent told Caribbean Net
News that Brandford pleaded not guilty during an appearance before Senior
Magistrate Carl Joseph and has been remanded in custody.
According to police, the 31-year-old Branford was nabbed at the E.T. Joshua
Airport in St Vincent with the counterfeit money.
He is reported to have flown from the Vere Cornwall Bird International Airport
in Antigua en route to his native St. Lucia.
However, acting on a tip-off from Antigua, police in St. Vincent discovered
the money and arrested Brandford. The
airline's Public Relations Department in St. John's moved quickly to issue a
statement which said in part: "We view this development seriously and, while
it is unrelated to our operations, we will support and assist the authorities
to the fullest extent during the course of this investigation."
Caribbean Star and its sister airline Caribbean Sun are owned by Texan
investor R. Allen Stanford, referred to by some as "the saviour of Antigua
and Barbuda." Meanwhile, a fellow pilot told
Caribbean Net News that Branford was not on duty at the time of the
incident but was only "taking a ride" back home.
Brandford will make another court appearance on June 20 when the case is
expected to be heard.
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