Six persons were charged yesterday with breaching COVID-19 restrictions during the APNU+AFC protest march held last week.
They are former APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Barbara Pilgrim, Director of Regional Health Services of Region Six Jevaughn Stephen, APNU Councillor at the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council Pollyanne Schultz, Karen France, Kirk Fraser, and Kwesi Joseph. They all appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court where Magistrate Peter Hugh presided over their arraignment via Zoom.
The charge against Pilgrim states that on Thursday, June 18, at Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam, she hosted a social event.
She told Stabroek News that she had intended to plead guilty for attending the protest but after her attorney told the magistrate that she did not host the activity, a not guilty plea was entered on her behalf.
Meanwhile, the others were charged separately with attending a social activity on June 18 at Princess Elizabeth Road.
Stephen and Joseph both entered not guilty pleas and were granted their release on $10,000 bail each, while Fraser, France and Schultz pleaded guilty and were fined $10,000 each.
Pilgrim, Stephen and Joseph are to return to court on July 14.
Attorney James Bond, who represented those charged, yesterday insisted that Pilgrim did not host the event but was present with a group of people that were there. He said since the police charged her with hosting rather than attending, a not guilty plea had to be entered.
“It is very shocking that the police force again would say Mr. Stephen was there when he was not there… That’s the only thing I have an issue with so to speak,” he further said.
Stephen yesterday also maintained that he was not a part of the protest and that members of the media who observed the protest could attest to this.
He added that he would continue to stand behind his party “and if I have to be dragged before the court ten times, I will do it ten times over but I wasn’t there on the 18th and my plea is not guilty”.
Additionally, when asked where he was at the time of the protest, he responded, “No, where I was is for me to know.”
Stephen charged that based on his “assumption once something goes down in New Amsterdam with APNU+AFC, automatically Jevaughn Stephen’s name is associated with [it.”
Pilgrim also stressed that she will continue to stand up for the coalition. Asked how she felt about the charge being brought against her, she said, “If I break the law, then they should.”
She added, “This is part of the struggle. This is part of the struggle.”
She also said that she does not intend to give up any time soon.
Meanwhile, a small group of supporters of those charged gathered in front of the court yesterday. They attempted to intimidate members of the media and labelled some as biased. They also claimed it was the media’s fault that charges were filed.
France, a nurse who was dressed in her uniform, threatened that if her picture was to make it into the news then she would file a lawsuit since she claimed that the media was not aware as to why she was present in court. Those gathered also encouraged Pilgrim and Stephen not to engage with the media.
The group also shouted at ranks present in the courtyard for not adhering to the social distancing restriction in place.
Notably, some of the persons gathered yesterday were present at the protest but charges were not filed against them.
