5 Barticians fined for breaching COVID-19 restrictions

…2 sentenced to 90 hours of community service

Five persons were each ordered to pay fines of $10,000, while two were given 90 hours of community service after they were arrested and charged for breaching the gazetted COVID-19 guidelines.
Rickey Benny, David Williams, Anthony Henry, Travis James, Harry Tularam, Montana Nurse, Leonard Surrey, Loraine MacGregor, and Alecia MacGregor all appeared before Magistrate Crystal Lambert at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
During the virtual hearing, seven of the nine persons appeared pleaded guilty to the charges. Nurse and Surrey were given 90 hours of community service, while Benny, Williams, Henry, and James were fined $100,000. The charges against Loraine MacGregor and Alecia MacGregor were dismissed.
Simone Lindore and Tesha Kenswil, who were also charged with the breaching of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, were absent, and the case was adjourned to September 14, 2020.
In addition, Jemina Alexander was charged for being an unlicensed driver and for breach of insurance. She was fined $50,000.
Meanwhile, Cloudine and Jermaine Thornhill were charged with assault. They both pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison until September 14, 2020.
Also appearing before the court was Oden Harvey, who was charged with simple larceny. He denied the allegation and was instructed to pay $60,000 bail. He is expected to return to court on September 14, 2020.
Recently, 40 persons were arrested for flouting the COVID-19 restrictions as gazetted by the Public Health Ministry to curb the spread of the virus.
On Tuesday last, ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), acting on information received, conducted an operation at Khan’s Hideout at 100 Second Street, Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD), where 17 persons were arrested for breaching the COVID-19 orders. They were all taken into custody and placed on bail pending their court appearance.
Also, at Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD), Region Three Police Commander Errol Watts and a team of ranks swooped down on Mary’s Bar, where a number of vehicles were playing loud music and a gathering was being hosted inside the bar.
According to reports, when Police ranks descended on the bar, no one was wearing a mask nor were they practising social distancing. They were all arrested for flouting the restrictions. (G9)