Supporters charged for violating COVID-19 measures following protest

APNU/AFC protest in New Amsterdam

Six supporters of the A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance for Change (APNU-AFC) who were part of a planned protest last week were on Thursday charged for violating COVID-19 restrictive measures and appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court to answer the charge.

They are former Member of Parliament Barbara Pilgrim; Director of Regional Health Services, Jevaughn Stephens; Executive Member of the Regional Arm of the PNC, Kirk Fraser; Karen France; Pollyann Shultz and Quacy Joseph.

They were all charged with attending a social event in contravention of Number 2 (1) (A) of the

COVID-19 emergency measures.
Fraser, Shultz and France pleaded guilty and were fined $10,000 each, while Stephens, Joseph and Pilgrim denied the charge and were granted bail in the sum of $10,000 each.

However, some of the charges might have been as a result of media pressure on the Police, after the Police had initially said that

they told the protesters to disperse when questioned about the protest.
Video recording emerged of the protesters marching through the streets of New Amsterdam on June 18, with the Police leading the procession and some officers diverting traffic so that the procession can have priority.

Following social media pressure, the Police subsequently announced that charges were expected to be laid.
On Thursday last, supporters of the Peoples National Congress (PNC), protesting under the APNU/AFC banner, marched from Princess Elizabeth Road to Strand and St Magdalene Street, where the Party’s Regional Office is located. There they were addressed by Regional Secretary Shurla Scott and Member of the Central Executive Committee Barbara Pilgrim.
Meanwhile, at the court on Thursday, Attorney-at-law James Bond accused the Police of falsifying evidence against two of the accused.
“The footage shows clearly that Mr Stephens was not at Princess Elizabeth Road, Quacy Joseph was not at Princess Elizabeth Road, and the Police would have trumped up these charges against these individuals. The Police maliciously falsified evidence and statements to show that Mr Stephens and Mr Joseph were present. They were not present,” Bond reiterated.
Stephens, Pilgrim and Joseph are expected to return to court on July 14.