PNC’s Aubrey Norton, 15 others charged over illegal anti-vaccination protest

On Friday, People’s National Congress Reform (PNC R) Executive Member, Aubrey Norton was released on self-bail for taking part in an illegal protest. Norton along with 15 other persons were charged with the offence.

Charged are: Aubrey Norton of Lot 27 Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara; Timothy Mc Vaugh of 15 La Penitence, Georgetown; Lennox Bacchus of 7 Ketley Street, Charlestown, Georgetown; Aubrey Crandon of 101 Leopold Street, Georgetown; Andre Doliviers of 12 Princes Street, Georgetown; Kyle Solomon of Lot 185 D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown; Godfrey McDonald of Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown; Compton Hope of 175 Charlotte Street, Lacytown, Georgetown; Khepera Mc Khufu of Section C Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Orel Brummel of 86 Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara; Keon James of 25 Good Intent, West Bank Demerara and Fitzroy Miller.
They all appeared in court to answer the charges. The first charge alleged that on September 13, at Square of the Revolution, Georgetown, they took part in a procession without the permission of the Police.

It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same place, they were in public without a face mask in breach of the gazetted COVID-19 measures. They pleaded not guilty and were released on self-bail on each of the charges.
They appeared before Magistrate Rondel Weever at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Some of them were represented by Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade. The matter has been adjourned to October 15.
Also charged with the offences are Ryan Fraser, Quincy Nicholls, Leon Roberts, and Andrew Wattson. They did not appear in court, prompting the Magistrate to issue arrest warrants for them.
According to reports, Norton and several persons were arrested on Monday and taken to the Brickdam Police Station for taking part in an illegal protest against the Government’s COVID-19 vaccination policy. Reports are that no permission was granted by the Police for the protest action.

Other party members charged
Back in May, two APNU/AFC Members of Parliament along with a group of supporters were charged for participating in an illegal protest. The parliamentarians, Christopher Jones and Annette Ferguson, were arraigned along with Mark Griffith, Travis Ellis, Gordon Lucas, and George Halley for the offence.

It is alleged that on April 26, following the dismissal of the party’s election petition by the High Court, they had participated in the illegal procession. They were each granted $20,000 bail.
However, Ferguson was also charged for allegedly obstructing a peace officer on April 26.
She also denied the latter charge and was granted $10,000 bail; taking her total bail sum to $30,000.
On April 26, scores of APNU/AFC supporters gathered outside the court and marched through city streets following the dismissal of the party’s election petition by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George.
The Chief Justice had ruled that nothing in the petition had supported the claims of the petitioners as it related to irregularities during the elections. Further, she ruled that there were no breaches or violations by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), that would make the election a sham or travesty.
Following her ruling, the party’s supporters and MPs took to the streets, where they protested in front of the High Court. As a result, several businesses along the commercial districts had closed their doors.
After their procession, the MPs along with several of the participants were served summonses to appear in court on Friday, as it is alleged that permission was not granted for the march.