Charges against pro-democracy protesters withdrawn

After extensive arguments that the charges instituted against two pro-democracy protesters for allegedly breaching the COVID-19 guidelines were bad in law and should have been immediately dismissed, the prosecutor has withdrawn the charges.

Police had instituted charges against former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) parliamentarian, Neil Kumar, and protestor, Raphael Boodhoo.

However, on Friday the charges were withdrawn by the State Prosecutor.
The duo was hauled before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer the charge which stated that on

May 16, they breached No 2 (1) restriction on social activities in the COVID-19 emergency measures. Kumar was also accused of hosting a meeting of a fraternal, civic organisation. They were arrested when they picketed the Foreign Affairs Ministry after the caretaker Government blocked the return of the democracy watchdog, The Carter Center, from entering Guyana to observe the recount of ballots from the March 2 General and Regional Elections. This denial prompted PPP/C supporters to take the streets. During that exercise, about 10 protesters were all in compliance with social distancing rules. The defendants’ lawyers, via audio-visual means,

made an application for self-bail; however, Magistrate Daly granted them bail in the sum of $25,000 each. During the preliminary trial, the police prosecutor was unable to defend the charges and, therefore, withdrew the case.
“We were saying that the charge was bad in law for a number of different reasons. Basically, the prosecutor was unable to answer to it, and after given a long time, the prosecutor felt constrained to withdraw those charges,” Kumar’s lawyer, Glenn Hanoman stated.
Hanoman commended the police for trying to control the matter but pointed out that they are selective in who is being charged.
“I believe that people have to pay attention to COVID-19, and I believe that there is a good reason for the police to act when people are breaching the COVID-19 restrictions, but it appears to me as though the police are being selective in who is being charged,” he asserted.
Additionally, former Opposition MP and Attorney-at-Law Priya Manickchand stated, “justice wins every time” despite the Government using the COVID-19 to crush democracy.
“To all of you who followed this matter and were outraged at Guyanese being charged for protesting the Granger Administration’s draconian, dictatorial decision to keep The Carter Center away from the recount process, I thank you. Never back down from a just cause,” she explained. In fact, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had added his voice to this issue, stating that the caretaker Government is using the COVID-19 guidelines to suppress those who dare to oppose them.