– husband admits cultivating marijuana plants
A NORTH West District farmer and his wife were on Thursday remanded to prison on joint charges of trafficking in narcotics and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Franklin Valanzuela, 47, also known as Franklin Anthony, and his wife Claris Huston, 65, of Hobodeia Village, in the North West District both pleaded not guilty to the charges before Magistrate Judy Latchman.
Particulars of the offences said that on September 2 at Hobodeia Village, they had in their possession 1,117 grammes of cannabis sativa (marijuana) for the purpose of trafficking.
The second joint charge said that on the same day at Hobodeia Village, they had in their possession three 16 gauge cartridge casings without being the holder of a firearm licence.
The couple was unrepresented and told the court that they have two children from their common-law union.
Hutson explained that she is suffering from a heart problem and diabetes. According to Anthony, the ammunition was found in a carton with some old clothes which does not belong to him.
Police Prosecutor Michael Grant opposed bail on the grounds that no special reason was raised by the duo.
For those two charges they were both remanded to prison and will make their next court appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Monday.
Anthony was also facing a separate charge of cultivating prohibited plants. He pleaded guilty to the offence that said on September 2 at Hobodeia, he cultivated marijuana.
According to the prosecution’s facts, acting on information received police went to the village where both defendants were contacted.
Subsequently, Anthony took the police to the backland where he pointed out a farm and told the ranks that it belongs to him.
The police then made checks on the farm and observed 16 marijuana plants. He admitted that he was planting, watering, molding and tending the plants on a daily basis. He was told of the offence committed and arrested and charged.
Magistrate Latchman took into consideration that Anthony is a first-time offender with no prior convictions or pending charges.
The defendant stated that he nurtured the prohibited plants to purchase a chain saw. For this offence he was fined $6,000 together with three years imprisonment.
(By Geeta Rampersaud)