Meer Rahaman, the owner of Altitude Cocktail Bar and Grill, which is located at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown; his employees and patrons of the popular hangout spot were on Wednesday charged with breaching the national COVID-19 measures.
They were hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Rahaman pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on March 13 and April 4, at the club, he hosted a party in breach of the COVID-19 measures. In a plea of mitigation, the proprietor explained that on both occasions, he was in the process of closing when the Police arrived and made arrests.
Rahaman was ordered to pay a fine of $16,350 or if he defaulted, serve one month in prison.
Kalvin Ramkellawan
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Nickel Thomas, a bartender; Tiffany Ross, 32, who is employed with the Guyana Post Office Corporation and Club Altitude; Kalvin Ramkellawan, 18, who operates a hookah business at the said club and Fiona Samuels 28, who is also employed at the club, were charged for attending a private party.
The party was held on March 13. All of them pleaded guilty to the charge except Samuels. Those who pleaded guilty were fined $16,350, or would, on default, serve one-month imprisonment. Samuels was released on $5000 bail and was scheduled to make her next court appearance on April 21.
Also, Joy Craigan, 19, and Johanna Craigan,18, were charged with attending a private party at the club’s location on March 13. They both pleaded guilty to the charge and apologised to the court. They too were fined $16,350 or would, on default, serve one-month imprisonment.
The Police Prosecutor told the court that ranks of the Guyana Police Force and COVID-19 Taskforce were conducting curfew operations around Georgetown when they visited the club and arrested the persons who were in breach of the COVID-19 measures. Moreover, the COVID-19 Taskforce has temporarily closed Altitude Cocktail Bar and Grill for its breach of the national COVID-19 measures. (G1)
