Guyana Trans United staged a protest on Friday in front of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to voice their concerns about what they believe to be discriminatory services meted out to them by the Guyana Police Force and the stagnation of a case where some of their members were shot at.
Supporters from the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and Red Thread were also protesting at the court. The demonstration was held in response to a decision handed down by Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond that charges stemming from shots being fired at four Trans United members would be dismissed if the court does not receive by Monday, the files that were sent back to the Brickdam Police Station for corrections.
On April 7, four transgender women alleged that shots were fired at them while they were plying their trade as sex workers at the corner of King Street and North Road. The quartet said they faced hostility while attempting to report the matter at the police station and when they attempted to seek medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
About a month later, Eccles resident Devar Kissoon was charged with assaulting two transgender sex workers, following an attack in which the duo were shot at with a pellet gun. Twenty-eight-year-old Kissoon, of Lot 41 Almond Street, Eccles, was released on $100,000 bail after he appeared in a city court and denied that on April 7, at King Street and North Road he assaulted Seon Persaud, also known as ‘Isabella,’ causing actual bodily harm. Kissoon also denied that he, on the same day, at King and Charlotte streets assaulted Micron Bennons, causing actual bodily harm.
Director of Trans United, Quincy McEwan told Stabroek News that since the court has made a decision regarding the resubmission of the files, he is urging Court 10 Prosecutor Jomo Nichols to ensure that they are in court on Monday to facilitate the hearing. He also lamented the pace at which the justice system is handling the matter since the incident occurred seven months ago. McEwan also mentioned that during a visit to the Brickdam Police Station on October 15, he learnt that the files requested by the Magistrate were not in their possession.
Samuel Benjamin, a representative from SASOD who protested on Friday, said he is hoping that justice will be served. He is calling on the justice system to stop delaying performing its duty, even as he reckoned that the system is “ineffective.”
Another SASOD member Joshua, who stood with a placard that read “Our laws should protect us not discriminate against us” said that he hopes that one of the outcomes of the protest is that the police force respect the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community and refrain from discrimination since they are all humans and deserve to be treated fairly.
