The Ethnic Relations Com-mission (ERC) has taken more persons to court in relation to racial incitement.
In a statement yesterday, the ERC says it commenced legal action against eight defaulters- three in December, 2020, four in January and one so far in February, 2021. When their cases were called in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, the ERC said that five persons pleaded guilty to offences committed separately. The charges filed were for exciting hostility or ill will on the grounds of race under the Racial Hostility Act and for causing racial or ethnic violence or hatred under the Representation of the People Act.
The ERC said that the five defendants who pleaded guilty are John Gobin, Lashonna Chester, Stacy Smartt, Glynis Gibson and Tiffiny Greene. They were all fined for the offences committed on separate dates.
The two defendants who pleaded not guilty – Surendrapaul Rampersaud and Steve Anthony Barakat will attend court separately when their cases resume. Barakat’s case at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court was adjourned by Magistrate Leron Daly to March 1, 2021 for trial while Rampersaud’s matter was adjourned to March 19 by Magistrate Peter Hugh at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court, West Coast Berbice.
A charge for the eighth defendant Suckie Persaud was filed on Tuesday, Feb-ruary 15 by the ERC and she is expected to appear at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on March 1, 2021 to answer the charge.
The ERC is again urging citizens to promote tolerance and understanding, especially towards those of different ethnicities.
