Sleepin Hotel owner Clifton Bacchus, one of his cashiers and two patrons were yesterday charged with breaching the national curfew.
Bacchus, 50, of Lots 288-289 Church Street, Georgetown, Shontelle Marshall, 33, of Lot 85 Alberttown, Tyson Wickham, 38, of AA Bent Street, and Althea Agard, appeared in a city court before Principal Magistrate Sherdell Isaacs-Marcus, who read the charge to them.
Bacchus, Marshall and Wickham were charged with breaching the 10.30 pm to 4 am curfew on March 12 at Church Street. Agard, meanwhile, was charged with committing the offence on April 12 at the hotel.
The curfew has been instituted as a measure to curb the transmission of COVID-19.
Bacchus pleaded not guilty to the charge. His attorney, Latchmie Rahamat, said the same law under which Bacchus was charged lists his business as an essential business, thus making the charge unlawful. Rahamat said that according to protocols, hotels, interior lodges and guest houses can operate on a 24-hour basis.
Marshall, who is the cashier at Sleepin, also pleaded not guilty to the charge. Her attorney said that Marshall also stays at the hotel because she works late hours. The lawyer asked for reasonable bail, or bail that is similar to the amount given to the proprietor.
Meanwhile, Wickham pleaded guilty but following the Police Prosecutor’s request to be given time to seek the Director of Police Prosecutions’ advice about the charge, a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
The four persons charged were placed on $10,000 bail each and told to return to court on May 17.
