PNC’s James Bond released on self-bail for breaching COVID-19 curfew

Attorney-at-Law and PNC member James Bond, who is also the owner of Cigars and Cognac, an eco-bar and lounge located at Melanie, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has been charged with breaching the nationwide COVID-19 curfew.
It is alleged that Bond and Krishnan Ross operated the bar in breach of the restrictions on social activities on four occasions. On Thursday, they were brought before Magistrate Marissa Mittlehozer at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defendants were released on self-bail. Their trial will commence on December 17. In March of this year, ranks of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) visited the Cigars and Cognac bar where they arrested several patrons for being in breach of the curfew.
Bond is not the first bar owner found to allegedly be in breach of the curfew.
In fact, Meer Rahaman, the proprietor of Club Altitude at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown; Mark Alleyen, Manager of Kairos Bar at Charlotte Street, Bourda, Georgetown; and Clifton Bacchus, the owner of Sleepin Hotel and Casino were also arrested for breaching the curfew.
As Government looks to ramp up enforcement of the COVID-19 guidelines in light of the rising deaths and cases, efforts are underway to review the laws to toughen the penalties for those found in violation.
In recent times, the Guyana Police Force has charged scores of persons for these breaches. Many of them pleaded guilty to the charges and were ordered to pay fines ranging between $5000 and 16,000. However, President Irfaan Ali is of the view that these fines are inadequate.
“The fines are inadequate, and I’ve asked 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 had said on the issue.
Many videos and pictures have been circulating on social media of the National COVID-19 Task Force enforcing the restrictions on social gatherings around the country.
Ranks of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have raided bars and nightclubs which led to the arrests of scores of persons partying beyond the curfew. These persons were loaded onto GDF buses and other vehicles and taken to the Police station where they were charged.
In most of the videos, persons were seen behaving in a disorderly manner. The National COVID-19 Task Force is appealing to citizens to adhere to the curfew and other measures in place to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. To report breaches of these measures, persons are being asked to call the COVID-19 hotlines: 626-6674, 624-3067, 624-2819, and toll-free (GTT) 0180.