A Corentyne pastor and nine others yesterday faced charges that they breached the restrictions on social activities under the emergency measures instituted to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease.
Pastor Kevin Pereira, also known as ‘Pastor Kevin,’ appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh via Skype yesterday and pleaded guilty to the charge.
He told the magistrate that he was asked to conduct a funeral service but was picked up by ranks and taken to the station after immediately arriving at the location. Police Commander Calvin Brutus, however, said Pereira was arrested at a service with about 50 persons in attendance.
Magistrate Singh reprimanded him and then discharged the matter.
Also charged separately was Chanderpaul Rangasammy, who pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. That matter was adjourned until June 8.
Meanwhile, Michelle Johnson, Marcel Corlette, Reggie Hintzen, Keon Schwiers, Shameer Persaud, Goutan Budhoo, Neshan Standish and Joel Ross were charged jointly yesterday after they were all arrested at one location in Alness last weekend.
Johnson, Corlette, Hinton, Schwiers and Persaud, all pleaded guilty to the charge and were fined $15,000 or three weeks in prison each.
However, arrests warrants were issued for Budhoo, Standish and Ross after they failed to appear in court. Their matters were also adjourned until June 8.
