Community service, fine for Anna Regina vendor

Jaipaul Ramsingh, 22, a clothes vendor of Anna Regina Market, Essequibo Coast, will have to perform 40 hours of community service, commencing on December 23, 2016, after he pleaded guilty to having 1 gram of cannabis in his possession.

During his first court appearance before magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court, Ramsingh admitted that he smokes the substance occasionally.

At that point Scarce told him that smoking is a more dangerous offense with stricter penalties and suggested that he immediately discontinue the practise. Scarce also called on the mother of Ramsingh to monitor his behaviour while he is at home.

Ramsingh told Magistrate Scarce that he obtained the substance from a friend.

The Police said that on December 18, 2016, they were on a patrol when they saw him acting in a suspicious manner.

A search was conducted on his person where the substance was found. He was told of the offense and subsequently arrested.

He told the court he would stop and he was sorry.

It was his first conviction, as such Scarce was lenient but warned him not to appear before him again for any similar offense.

He will have to do community service three hours daily at the Anna Regina Police Station until the hours are completed.

He was also fined $3000.