A Soesdyke businessman was yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with allegedly trafficking two Venezuelan nationals for labour.
Wildlife trader Feezal Shaw, 61, who operates South American Unlimited, was not required to plead to the charges, which were read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown.
It is alleged that between February 14th and June 14th, 2018, at Soesdyke, Shaw engaged in trafficking in persons, that is, he recruited, harboured or transported Eduaro Vivas for him to work and did not pay him.
It was also alleged that during the same time at Soesdyke, he engaged in trafficking in persons, that is, he recruited, harboured or transported Hector Jose Rodriguez for him to work and did not pay him.
Police Prosecutor Simone Payne objected to bail being granted, while citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offences.
It is the police’s case that on February 14th, the victims, who are both Venezuelan nationals, were invited to Guyana to work for Shaw. The victims were allegedly brought to Guyana and told that they would be building cages for Shaw’s exotic animals. They were reportedly paid for their first three days here and then they were not paid anything until June 1st, when they were given $100,000. They subsequently asked for the money owed to them on later occasions but were never paid.
It is also alleged that Shaw took their passports and told them he would get them an extension of time but he never returned the documents.
Shaw’s attorney, Haymant Ramdani, in an application for reasonable bail, told the court that his client has only had one previous matter, which was in 2005, and he had been acting within the law since that time.
Chief Magistrate McLennan eventually remanded the man to prison and adjourned the matters until October 15th..
