6 fined $20,000 or 6 weeks imprisonment for possession of explosives

Seven persons living in various villages across Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who were caught with explosives during Diwali festivities, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court. They were charged with possession of explosives without permission.
Pleading guilty to the offence were Bissoondyal Narine, 56, of Somerset and Berks, Essequibo Coast; Alameen Yussuff, 16, of Meten-meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara; Ricardo Forde, 38, of Block X Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Zocan Albert, 26, of 26 Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast; Kevin John, 23, of 34 David Street, Kitty, Georgetown; and Muneshwar Chan, 34, of Lot 16 Columbia, Essequibo Coast. They were fined $20,000 or spend an alternative of six weeks imprisonment.
One vendor Bhagwandat Jones, 69, of Cotton Field, pleaded not guilty and his case was postponed until November 15.
According to information reaching Guyana Times a total of 14 shops and stalls were searched and a total of 280 boxes of illegal fire crackers – squibs and mini ‘channa bombs’ – were unearthed at various locations. The fire crackers were said to be of different brands. All seizures were conducted by Police Officers attached to G Division (Essequibo Coast-Islands).