Skylar Mack, the 18-year-old American who faced four months in jail for violating the quarantine law of the Cayman Islands, has just had her sentence halved to two months. Does she deserve any jail time at all?
Jail Sentence Reduced For Skylar Mack, The American Who Flouted Cayman Islands Quarantine Law
Mack arrived in Grand Cayman on November 27, 2020 with a negative COVID-19 test result. She tested again after arrival and the test again returned negative. Nevertheless, the Cayman Islands requires all Americans to quarantine for 14 days and wear a tracking bracelet.
Her boyfriend, 25-year-old Vanjae Ramgeet, a resident of the Cayman Islands, was competing in a jet ski event. Mack removed her tracking bracelet and attended the event, spanning about seven hours. During the event, she did not wear a mask.
She was caught and she and her boyfriend were initially sentenced to 40 hours of community service and a $2,600 fine. Ramgeet was charged for aiding and abetting her crime.
But a Crown prosecutor pushed back on the judge’s sentence, noting that it would not effectively deter other would-be violators. The judge agreed and increased their sentence to four months.
Mack’s family has appealed to President Trump to intervene, arguing that she does not want special treatment, just the sort of treatment other violators would experience rather than being made an example of.
This afternoon, Justice Roger Chapple reduced their sentence from four months to two months. No further explanation has been offered at this point.
Is This A Fair Sentence?
There’s an objective and subjective answer to the question of whether the sentence is fair. Objectively, it is totally fair. It is well within the prescription of the law, which sets a maximum penalty of two years in jail and a fine of $10,000. Furthermore, Mack was a guest and had a duty to respect the laws of her host country.
Subjectively, is a far more difficult issue. Perhaps this lesson will be beneficial ultimately to her and serve as a strong deterrent to others. On the other hand, I’m not sure she or society will be any better off if she sits in jail for two months versus two weeks. Will it make her sorrier? Will it atone for the families who must now quarantine?
CONCLUSION
Quarantines exist for a reason. Even negative tests can be misleading when the virus has an incubation period of up to two weeks. While Mack knowingly broke the law and should suffer the consequences for doing so, is two months in jail too little, too much, or just right?
image: Skylar Mack / Facebook
She removed her electronic tracking bracelet. This is a premeditated avoidance of the country’s CV19 precautions simply to watch her boyfriend in action.
She deserved her punishment.
Suck it up, sister! You’re an entitled brat , and happily put others at risk without a second thought, for your own selfish reasons. I would have given her 12 months, with hard labour.
What is it about these American teens believing laws in other countries don’t apply to them and ludicrously asking to presidential intervention? ( Michael Fay caning case in Singapore refers)
If its such a problem, why not just stop ALL air traffic in and out? Why are they holding a jetski competition anyway? Ban ALL travel to and from. “But I have to travel for medical reasons” Too bad. Banned. Let them burn their economy to the ground. Who cares. This is why Americans should not support these banana republics by traveling to and spending money in them…..this includes Hawaii where they’ll jail Americans but gladly welcome California and WA State politicians for junkets.
She made the decision to visit. I can understand why you are sympathetic because you have violated some quarantine rules with your travel. Fortunately for you, you violated them only in jurisdictions where there was no enforcement. Because there is no enforcement in the US probably leads Americans to think they can get away with similar unlawful behavior elsewhere.
While there is a good argument that a fine is probably more appropriate, a fine would also be regressive.
I disagree with your assessment of my travel. Read the actual verbiage of these travel restrictions…there are loopholes miles wide for “business” and every one of my trips is for business if you consider this blog a business. But that’s a whole different matter than the issue of this post.
Matthew, be careful! Even some careful people did not realize until later that they were not being too careful even though they though they were.
As far the woman’s 8 week sentence. That seems fair to me. 2 years seems too harsh, in my opinion.
In contrast, though people accuse Singapore of being too strict, they sentenced a man to only 2 weeks in prison. No caning (whipping). The man (Mr. Palanivelu Ramasamy) was supposed to be in home quarantine for 2 weeks. He was a supervisor of a newspaper delivery service. When his subordinates didn’t deliver 14 newspapers to one building on day 9 of the quarantine, he delivered the newspapers while wearing a mask and then went home. He got caught.
Singapore has had 29 deaths from Covid-19 compared with Connecticut’s over 5,000 deaths. Singapore has a population of about 25% bigger than CT.
It’s not an essential business. I hope you aren’t comparing yourself to one.
A lot of the guidelines say to avoid non-essential travel. How many of your trips were “essential”?
@Nate nate Canada’s definition of an essential trip is beyond strict. Canada is banning all Americans from entering by land except for “essential” trips. However, their definition of “essential” is that everything is banned except a very narrow definition including having a Canadian spouse, being a trucker or air crew. Other very urgent matters are considered “non-essential” even if they are essential. There was even a hospital employee specifically bringing in emergency Covid-19 medication that was needed right away not in hours from now (but he was not a trucker) . He was deemed non-essential because they could always buy a 747 and fly it over.
Yeah, Canada obviously takes this very seriously. And that is why their country is doing so much better in this fight against covid than their neighbors to the south.
Its shameful how much traveling is going on right now.
Matthew: You can blog without traveling. You’re just another narcissist who doesn’t think the rules apply to them and put others at risk. Justify however you wish…all the other narcissists do.
Now come back with your clever retort.
Don’t listen to these brainwashed maniacs. They are the type of people who wear 3 masks even after being fully vaccinated and driving alone in their cars. No common sense. They could care less about the psychological and economic damage these ridiculous lockdowns are causing. A 51% increase in adolescent suicide, but they are more worried about this crap.
She showed intent to violate the terms of her entry as a visitor and engaged in an illegal act that invites criminal penalty. Negligence of the law is not a get/stay out jail free card, nor is a willful intent to violate a law. That she didn’t think she would be caught, prosecuted and sentenced to time behind bars invites risk of just that happening.
She knowingly took the risk she did. Now she’s in line to pay up for the risk she took. Doesn’t sound entirely unfair to me, but I do have concerns about the possibility of prosecutors trying to make someone into a high profile public example to dissuade others rather than simply trying to pursue justice.
@GU. In some countries its still a crime to be gay. So you support imprisonment or execution for those “offences” as well?
That has nothing to do with this situation. Or do you think she went to the Caymans to engage in illegal sex there and that’s why she was prosecuted, convicted and sentenced?
I don’t believe being gay is premeditated.
Really bad analogy.
@Aztec. You’d have a hard time using that as a defense in a sham trial.
Wow wow, it’s so suprising to me to read the comments here, I mean literally after being under lockdown for months we still dont have the brain to think for ourselves?
We all went through a tough situation, an unknown virus, governments took radical actions, destroying millions of small businesses, including mine, under the lockdowns nothing really changed, just the more liberal or dictatorship governments were already gained more power (I’m not a party minded person and dont support any party neither), thank God our lovely media spread fair and drama, and the beutiful humanity became like total zombies, cant think for themselves anymore, the hate rooted in when some pepole see others traveling or not being in line with their hysteria, seeing comments here, about other people’s travels seriously where on earth are we?
Reading trip adviser reports were pepole complaining on some resort employees that they removed their mask for few minutes to breathe… seriously you went on a vacation between pepole you took the risk.. shut up.. a virus spreads regardless how manny masks or sanitizer you put, if you decide to leave your house, accept to live with that, all this things didnt slow the virus, either you lock yourself or move on with life.
Now this girl went out to support her boyfriend, of course she didn’t follow the rules (which I personally see it to be dictatorship to the next level).. but the hate I see here and other media towards her is unbelievable, she didnt endanger anyone, people gathered there on their own willingness, she was not sick or anything, but unfortunately some of us are mindful sick. The amount of fear, terror and hate this drama brought on us, was worse then the virus itself…
Please loosen up, understand there is another perspective, even if it doesn’t fit with yours..
She deserves the full penalty: $10,000 fine and a year in jail.
If this woman is not the perfect example of the worst offender, deserving of the maximum penalty, I don’t know what is. She appears to have not been eligible to enter the country at all (it’s closed to tourists). She agreed to the 14 day quarantine. Then she took off the monitoring device and snuck away. She partied, without a mask, in a crowd, without socially distancing. Does she need to bomb a police station to make it any more obvious?
Throw her in jail for a year. Fine her the $10,000 – daddy will pay it anyway. Maybe she will learn a lesson, and maybe others will understand what rules and laws are and who they apply to – everyone. Including spoiled morons like this woman.
I had read that she was pre-med and hoping to go to medical school. But- that’s all over now. She has no chance of getting into medical school after this whole situation. If she had honor, she’d commit seppuku.
That’s true, but also sad.
She can still be a nurse practitioner. Some nurse practitioners call themselves “doctor” and wear a white coat because of a technicality.
If a lawyer violated quarantine, there is a good argument they should be disbarred. Or at least have a character and fitness review
This happened internationally, so she can probably sweep this under the rug and not even declare this on her applications.
Your headline refers to a “teen”. While she is a teen, she is also an adult and as such should be held fully responsible for her actions. Calling her a teen seems an act designed to garner sympathy for her where none is warranted.
I’m not so so sure these days. The internet has a long memory and an internet search is part of a lot of application processes,
Many of the punishments, even in our justice system, should be higher fines based on wealth rather than incarceration.
So fine minimum of 5% of wealth or sone monetary amount. The fine should hurt the perpetrator but not burden the tax payer. Not disclosing wealth truthfully should have fines of 60% half of which goes to a whistle blower if applicable.
Meant prior reply for TM
I’d be more sympathetic and say a hefty fine would be more appropriate – except she made an overt act of removing her tracking bracelet. That escalates this from “oops” to actual malice IMO, and warrants more severe punishment.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, especially when you play said games in a foreign country.
I agree with the above: This was no accident but an intentional violation of the law during a pandemic simply because she felt like it. She knew that there would be repercussions if she was caught but chose her actions anyway. She deserves what she gets.
I love the Caymans, it’s one of my go-to Caribbean vacation spots. A much more mature vibe and hardly a partier’s paradise like some places. If making an example of someone who knowingly flaunted the rules/law keeps the Caymans more of an “adult” vacation destination that’s fine with me. I’m 55 y/o old and my wild and wooly days are behind me. I avoid year ’round “Spring Break” destinations and they have their appeal to certain demographics, but not my particular one. And hey, she avoided the maximum penalty but hopefully learned a real lesson. I call it fair and just.
She got what she deserved. Break the law and that’s what happens. I do think 2 months is a fair sentence.
This is the NBC News of blog comments. Truly hilarious to listen to a bunch of folks who seem to have at best a distant memories of being 18 be outraged by someone being selfish and shortsighted. Your outrage will have little impact on moronic behavior of your grandkids or most other teenagers’ behavior when with their bf/gf. There is a reason sentencing guidelines offer flexibility. The deterrent value against a 45 year old businessman is different than 18 year old staying with bf. let her do two weeks in jail (comparable to quarantine requirement) and move on. Government created the loophole of home quarantine. If they were serious about public health state supervised quarantine would be required.
You falsely assume that American standards of “flexibility” and “prosecutorial discretion” exist in foreign jurisdictions. Often, they don’t, whether we agree with that lack of “fairness” or not. Bottom line, any American who chooses to flout the law elsewhere is playing with fire.
“If they were serious about public health state supervised quarantine would be required.”
They made her wear a tracking device. I’m not sure how much more “state supervised” you can get…
Do you work for state prosecutor….bit embarrassed a teen slipped into the open? The state could mandate hotel-based quarantine. The approach seems to work quite well for some countries. Do we really think she – or most others with a tracking device – are socially distancing for bf/gf ect? So the boyfriend is free to wonder the beaches after cohabiting with her? A policy dreamed up lawyers view of what should happen and not a public health view of what people actually do. Is the bf in jail for 4 months? I think there is quite a lot that can be done better. Island policy seems to be mostly about huffing and puffing but really not well thought out. Perhaps you should demand more of your public officials.
Nobody is above the law – not this teen, nor a cheating leader of a nation personally enriching himself and his cronies
UA-NYC – aren’t you rushing to judgement on Biden? After all, hasn’t Joe denied involvement in Hunter’s China indiscretions? Come on man, at least give the poor man the benefit of the doubt until someone turns over the stained blue dress. As for the girl, she revealed her intent to flout Cayman law when she removed the monitoring device. She willingly committed a crime, so she serves the time -like they say – if the blue dress fits, wear it!
Your posts are frankly embarrassing…get some help for your TSS
An unworthy response.
She looks so old as a 18-year old girl. Looking at the picture, I thought she was in the mid-thirties (36-38 to be exact). Is she really 18???
Let’s leave the Biden family out of this.
At least she is not as pathetic as these two.
https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalHumor/comments/ki90d0/women_and_children_first/
Oh please. She broke the law, let her suffer the sentence. Its morons like this who will keep Covid spreading.
PS appealing to that orange skinned hypocrite is rich, because he claims to be on the side of law and order.
I’m sure Americans will learn at some point just to vacation at places that don’t have all these ridiculous quarantine rules or places that rules that can easily be paid off. This is getting ridiculous already.
I would take 2 months in a jail in the Cayman Islands vs 1 day in a jail in any Central or South American countries. She is lucky it was in the Cayman Islands so enjoy her time in jail.
What do you think she’s going to be doing…. sitting on a lawn chair soaking in the sun on the prison grounds ? …. eating lobster and drinking wine ?? (eye roll x 1000).
My understanding is that this young woman graduated high school at 16 and is/was pursuing a medical degree.
So thankful I got to be a teen before social media. I made far larger mistakes at that age and likely had even less to offer the world than what she aspires to.
You make choices in life and deal with the consequences. Sadly she learned that lesson the hard way. But can we at least all agree that it should not be a life sentence of repenting to the keyboard warriors?
I somehow doubt all of you have lived perfect lives free of consequence to society. Glass houses. All of us. Everyone. Maybe especially those so anxious to shine the light on others.
FYI- my point is that she’s been judged plenty. By an actual judge. And likely won’t be able to continue to pursue her dream of being a doctor.
So why do you all feel the need for your own pound of flesh?
To exact a life sentence of shame for her.
Look in the mirror. Examine your own short comings. She made a mistake. Paid a heavy price. Why is that not enough for a vast majority of you?
@Ryan: Please allow me to respond to your comments. First, I am not sure if she graduated highschool at 16. And even if she did, obtaining a medical degree is a long way to go for her. A B.S./B.A degree first which usually takes 4-4.5 years, then she must pass the MCAT exam to be admitted into a medical school, then another 3-4 years to be trained in the medical field, then some more time to be an “intern/resident”… Statistically speaking, it is not easy for one, including her to obtain a medical/graduate degree.
So just because she got some judgements/comments for her behavior, she would not be able to pursue her dream career. What a correlation!
I’m OK with with either sentence as long as she is now banned from returning to the Cayman Islands. If she returns illegally then the max sentence
White privilege at work. And what about Vanjae Ramgeet, her swarthy boy toy? He did nothing wrong, but he’s locked up to pay for her crime. Is this Cayman justice? #BlackLivesMatter
In a jurisdiction that still outlaws homosexuality (i think that is an oxymoron), one should expect the book being thrown at them for violating their laws. it was premeditated, she’ll remember to try and do it right next time.
Maybe it should be reduced to 14 days.
“Her family appealed trump”.
Well of course they did. Their hero I’m quite sure. He set the stage for Americans to follow and a fine one indeed.
The ugliest of American’s. Ignorant and proud!
She should have been jailed. She knowingly broke the rules!
Yes, the sentence is just and fair. She knew the rules and violated them.
Poor Skylar, I’m sure mommy and daddy will still continue to bail her out of any uncomfortable situations that arise in the future. For those of you who do – stop defending these morons on the basis of just being a silly, thoughtless 18-year-old. Plenty of us were responsible at that age and did not act inappropriately. This is precisely why stuff like this keeps happening — because parents continue the bail-out, excuse making, hand-holding, rear-end wiping and coddling. Skylar !!… GO TELL YOUR STORY WALKIN’.
Gosh, i honestly don’t know what to say,
I understand that people want to party and have fun but it’s sad to see people disrespecting our entire situation.
Honestly i don’t have much to say except that obviously this young lady has problems so whatever her sentence should be needs to deter her from doing this in the future. Hopefully she understands what she did and my god i hope she realizes what she did sas awfully stupid and disrespectful and a great deal of other things as well…..
Don’t attack mathew, his job takes him places. im not in a position to rly say anything but if you need to be upset about someone traveling, complaining online isn’t gonna help you. People need to travel for work and that is just how it is. Keep the complaining and assumptions to yourself.
Whether a punishment is fair or not is irrelevant. There are laws, many silly, draconian or plain stupid. If you break them, you risk punishment if caught. Take drug laws an example: in some parts of the world, you can buy weed legally and smoke in public. The other extreme can involve capital punishment for the same action. It’s not that long ago any female caught driving in Saudi faced jail time. Do I think these laws are sensible or fair? No, but I abide by them regardless of my personal opinion.
Skylar and her boyfriend did not deserve that tyrannical punishment. Will never go to a country that has ridiculous laws like that. And for everyone saying “she has to obey the rules of another country” does being warned about an unjust law make the law cease being unjust. Ironically, it’s the people who want society shut down for a 99.97% survivable virus that are selfish ones, thinking they are entitled to a risk free life. The common cold is more painful than covid, and even if it was deadlier she still doesn’t deserve prison. It’s not like she intended to make people sick. Only 6% of reported covid deaths were actually from covid and not comorbidities. The real irony here is that all these liberals want prison reform for rapists/murderers, but want a teen to suffer in prison for this trivial reason. Fuck you all.