A total of 41 persons have been charged in Berbice over the past week with breaching the national curfew and other restrictions in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
On Thursday alone, 22 persons, including the owners of a Corriverton hotel and Venezuelan workers, appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court to face charges for alleged breaches.
Mario Dave, Vikash Singh, Sherwin Peterson, Earle Angel, O’ Neil Lewis, Bertly Small, Abdul Haniff, Tameshwar Basdeo, Lennox Ronaldo, Calvin Douglas, Savita Maniram, Arjan Jagdeo, Romaine Simmonds, Kevin Rambarran Richard Jeffery, Nikol Rodriques, Buonetina Henriques, Teledo Mendoza Maria, Brehaspat Joshua, Mapta Yanireth, Moita Yamileth and Zorrell Caroline were all arrested for breaching the restriction on social activities.
Yanireth, Yamileth and Joshua are also expected to be charged with breach of the restriction to home.
They were placed on $10,000 station bail each after the magistrate was unable to appear via Skype at the arraignment. They are expected to reappear in court sometime next week.
Under the emergency measures implemented to stem the transmission of COVID-19, a restriction on social activi-ties, a restriction to home and a national 12-hour curfew have been instituted.
Meanwhile, for the week, 19 persons were also charged at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court with breaching the curfew.
On Monday, 12 persons were charged at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court with breaching the curfew. Some were ordered to do community service for two hours at the court after they pleaded guilty.
On Thursday, Rangeeta Bhagwandin, Lakeram Bhagwandin, Devendra Samaroo, Lailehram Lachminarain, Shrimati Lachminarain and Jeremiah Dormod all appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court to face the same charge.
It was alleged that Shrimati on Monday, May 4, hosted a private party at West Canefield, East Canje Berbice, while the two Bhagwandins as well as Samaroo and Laliehram Lachminarain were all charged with attending a private party at West Canefield, East Canje Berbice on Monday, May 4.
While Shrimati pleaded not guilty to the charge and is due to return to the Reliance Magistrate’s Court on June 3, the four others pleaded guilty and were fined $10,000 each or one week imprisonment.
Dormod, who was charged with not being in the confines of his home or yard space on May 5, also pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $10,000 or one week imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Nigel Persaud was also charged with not being in the confines of his home or yard space on May 5. An arrest warrant was issued for Persaud after he failed to appear in court on Thursday.
Stabroek News was told, that the number of persons appearing on charges of breaching the curfew has increased over the past two weeks.
Police have been patrolling the region at various times throughout the evenings. On Thursday evening, they were noticed traversing the Canje area.
A notice gazetted by the Health Minister states that no person shall host, attend or visit a private party; a recreational or competitive sporting event; a wedding (other than the bride, the bridegroom, official witnesses and the marriage officer); a banquet, ball or reception; a bar or rum shop; the seawall; a pool, creek or river; a wake or vigil; a gym; a beauty salon or spa; a club or discotheque; a meeting of a fraternal society, private or social club or civic association or organisation; or any other social activity. Additionally, it is stipulated that no water sports or recreational activities shall be allowed on any river, creek and internal waters and that no more than ten mourners, one officiant and the funeral director and the necessary staff shall attend a funeral.
The notice further states that except as otherwise provided, every person shall remain in the confines of his or her home and its yard space.
The national curfew remains in place throughout Guyana from 6pm to 6 am until June 3.
