Man Ordered To Pay Fines For Ganja Possession & Consumption Charges. Man Also Disqualified For Driving Without Insurance & Without A Licence

By Alric Lindsay

Chevroy Grove appeared in the Summary Court before Magistrate McFarlane today, September 9, 2026, to be sentenced for Ganja possession, Ganja consumption, driving without being qualified and driving without insurance.

Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions detailed the separate incidents underlying the charges. On November 24, 2025, police officers stopped a vehicle after receiving a report of a male travelling in a vehicle. Upon approaching, officers noticed a strong scent of Ganja coming from the vehicle, where Grove was a passenger. A subsequent search revealed Ganja in the car. Grove was taken to a detention centre, and based on his admissions, officers searched his home, discovering an additional 1.76 grams of Ganja inside a dresser. A urine test on November 26 came back positive for Ganja. Grove later admitted he purchased the drugs for $70 at or near Everglo bar.

Another incident occurred during a routine traffic stop on December 19, 2025. Officers observed a vehicle make a sudden U-turn when approaching a police checkpoint. Grove, who was driving the vehicle, was found to have no Cayman Islands driving license and was operating the vehicle without insurance. He was subsequently released on police bail.

Defence lawyer Stacy-Ann Kelly argued that Grove has shown a dramatic turnaround, noting he has been participating in a testing program since May. “I see Mr. Grove as a success story,” Kelly told the court, adding, “This is someone who recognizes [his issues].”

The court heard that Grove is a father to two daughters, aged 3 and 5, who reside in Jamaica. He works for Andrews Cleaning Services, earning a monthly salary of $1,800 with roughly $300 in disposable income. Out of his earnings, he supports both of his children, their mother, his own mother, and six siblings. Addressing his prior drug use, the court heard that Grove smoked Ganja to help him sleep.

Magistrate McFarlane acknowledged Grove’s progress to date, and credited him for his change in attitude.

For the offences, Magistrate McFarlane imposed a total of $878 in financial penalties. For driving without insurance, it was noted that Grove was disqualified from driving for one year, a ban that took effect in June 2026. Magistrate McFarlane  warned Grove that he cannot apply for a Cayman driver’s license until June 2027, cautioning, “If you get caught driving now, you could go to prison.”

Regarding the traffic charges, Magistrate McFarlane noted that Grove’s 12-month driving disqualification was ordered from June 2026.  Instead of placing Grove into custody, Magistrate McFarlane gave him a 12-month conditional discharge.  No permanent conviction will be recorded on his criminal record for the drug offences as long as he complies with the conditions.