Who is Skylar Mack? Eric Trump shows support for Georgia teen jailed for violating quarantine in Cayman Islands
A teenager who has been put behind bars for breaking Covid-19 quarantine rules has received a supporting tweet from Donald Trump’s middle son Eric. Skylar Mack was jailed for four months for breaking her quarantine after just two days on the Cayman Islands. She went outside her hotel room to watch her 24-year-old boyfriend Vanjae Ramgeet’s jet ski competition, The Sun reported. For breaking the rules, Mack, as well as Ramgeet both, were sentenced on Tuesday morning, December 22. But Eric felt an injustice had been served to the youngsters as he tweeted, “This is infuriating. Skylar is an 18 year old girl who left her hotel to watch her boyfriend compete in a jet ski competition... 4 months in jail?! #FreeSkylar.” Though the pair pled guilty, their lawyer Jonathon Hughes said he will soon appeal their conviction and sentencing. "They’re two young people who have never been in trouble before. This is the first time they’ve had interaction with police, the courts, prison,” Hughes stated.
This is infuriating. Skylar is an 18 year old girl who left her hotel to watch her boyfriend compete in a jet ski competition... 4 months in jail?!#FreeSkylar https://t.co/OkxNOFru78
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) December 22, 2020
Reports said that Mack and Ramgeet were each first ordered to pay $2,600 as a fine and do 40 hours of community service. The 18-year-old reached the Caribbean island on November 27, but instead of remaining under quarantine, she removed her geo-fencing bracelet and left her place of stay to see Ramgeet’s competition. The couple was arrested after they spent over seven hours with other people at the event without wearing a face covering or practicing social distancing. After detaining them, authorities put them at a government quarantine facility for 14 days.
After the original sentencing of the duo, Cayman Islands’ Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran told the Grand Court, “These offences should have been met with far more stringent measures. When it comes to a matter of deterrence, the sentences imposed are likely to have little to no effect on other like-minded individuals.” But Mack and Ramgeet’s attorney argued that “there is no way that it can be right that a custodial sentence is imposed for a first-time offence on an 18-year-old defendant, who entered an early guilty plea. The magistrate was correct to have taken into account the severity of the breach, as well as the youthful ignorance and selfishness of the defendants.”
Hughes added, “Ms. Mack has paid her fine in full from her savings, which resulted in a significant portion of her funds being depleted. She has received hate mail, so far as to say even death threats. This has even impacted her father, who is also a professional jet-ski rider and has now lost sponsorship because of it.” In a statement to the Compass, Mack noted, “I am aware that the Cayman Islands Government has done nothing but dedicate extreme caution to combat the spread of COVID-19, for this the country and its citizens can be extremely proud. I made a mistake, and words cannot express how sorry I am for this… I was afforded the opportunity to enter the islands during these trying times and I abused it. I am humbly asking for the forgiveness of the community.”
Meanwhile, Eric has faced a lot of criticism for his tweet as one user said, “Don’t break the law ... and if you do then expect there to be consequences.” Another one tweeted, “Some countries have laws and enforce them, Catnip. I know it's a concept foreign to you Trumps, but it's true.” “I am sure the caymans islands would welcome a boycott from America consider the virus, hospitalizations and death rates r out of control here,” a third user added.
Don’t break the law ... and if you do then expect there to be consequences.
— lisa martin (@lisa1002martin) December 22, 2020
Some countries have laws and enforce them, Catnip. I know it's a concept foreign to you Trumps, but it's true.
— JenO'MalleyDillonWasRight (@d4s3r1) December 22, 2020
I am sure the caymans islands would welcome a boycott from America consider the virus, hospitalizations and death rates r out of control here.
— Kris (@Krislkup) December 22, 2020