Linden promoter charged for breaching COVID-19 restrictions

Popular Linden promoter Aubrey “Shanghai” Major was on Thursday charged for breaching the COVID-19 guidelines after he reportedly hosted a party in the mining town over the weekend.
The matter was called before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, but Major was a no-show.
The Police stated that Major hosted a party at his Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden home on Sunday, April 25, 2021 which was reportedly attended by scores. The matter was adjourned until May 13, 2021.
Several persons were already arrested and placed before the courts for breaching the restrictions set out by the National COVID-19 Task Force.
A few days ago, 42 persons in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) who were in breach of the COVID-19 guidelines were arrested during “Operation COVICURB”.
Police reported that the operation targeted public transportation, public spaces and social activities.
Earlier in the month, a total of 21 persons had been arrested for similar offences. Of the total, 12 were arrested at Mabaruma, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini), while the others were arrested at Vergenoegen, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

The operation included officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
Despite the 22:30h to 04:00h (10:30 pm to 04:00 am) curfew and the existing regulations stipulating the maximum numbers for social gatherings, scores of citizens continue to violate the regulations.
In fact, President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday stated that the Government would ramp up enforcement of the COVID-19 guidelines and protocols in light of spiking cases and deaths.
He added that efforts were underway to review the laws with the aim of toughening the penalties for those caught breaching the measures.
“The fines are inadequate, and I’ve asked the Attorney General Anil Nandlall, indeed, to relook at the laws to see how we can have amendments that can speak to the seriousness of what we’re dealing with; so, that is ongoing,” President Ali stated.
Currently, the fines for COVID-19 breaches range between $5000 and $16,000.
However, President Ali pointed out that the Government would be shifting its focus from prosecuting citizens who partake in social gatherings that breach the COVID-19 guidelines to now prosecuting the owners of those social venues.
This is in keeping with a previous commitment by Government for businesses to face the “full brunt of the law” for breaching the guidelines.