to smuggle cannabis into Florida from Jamaica.

John Pearman Jr. will spend the next 14 months in a Jamaican prison after receiving an 18-month sentence for the offence last September.

Pearman, 40, is the son of former-United Bermuda Party Government Cabinet Minister John Irving Pearman, who retired from politics at the last General Election.

It is understood Pearman pleaded guilty to attempting to export cannabis from Montego Bay to Miami, Florida last September and was jailed for 18 months last September.

Pearman could have had his sentence reduced by one third if he paid a fine of 300,000 Jamaican dollars, but instead opted to serve the full term. When contacted yesterday to confirm the arrest and conviction, Mr. Pearman Sr.

confirmed that the convicted man was his son.

"Yes, he is my son,'' he said.

"We, my wife and I, are very candid. We know what life is about and we know you can't pre-determine what your children do. There it is.'' BERMUDIAN BDA DRUGS DGS