City Mayor, Ubraj Narine and Opposition Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan were today slapped with several charges stemming from comments they made during a standoff over the removal of vendors from outside of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) on Monday.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that Narine and Duncan were escorted to the Brickdam Police Station this afternoon to be charged on several counts.
The charges include attempting to excite hostility or ill will on the ground of race, using a computer system to attempt to excite ethnic division on the ground of race and obstructing traffic.
They were later released on $100,000 bail each and are scheduled to appear in court tomorrow.
Stabroek News understands that when the police showed up at Narine’s office at City Hall, Georgetown this afternoon, Duncan was present.
They were both escorted to the Brickdam Police Station for the charges to be read to them. They were accompanied by attorneys, Darren Wade and Roysdale Forde.
This move saw chaos erupting in the compound of City Hall, all the way up to the Mayor’s office as vendors who were in support of Narine and against the police decision to have him escorted to the police station protested.
A crowd of mostly Narine supporters along with Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton and other party members followed Narine and Duncan as they chose to walk over to the Brickdam Police Station, in the presence of the police.
Throughout the journey, the supporters shouted “we shall overcome”.
While they walked into the police station, the supporters stood outside as they awaited the return of Narine and Duncan. The supporters rejoiced loudly as Narine and Duncan walked out of the police station compound after being asked to post bail with one man lifting Narine up.
On Monday night, Narine and members of the APNU+AFC including Duncan and Forde visited New Market Street in support of the vendors who were being removed from outside the GPH.
The government and hospital management are contending that the caravans impede traffic in this vital section of New Market Street while the city, through the mayor, is insisting it has jurisdiction in this area and was never consulted about the removal of the ‘encumbrances’.
The city is calling for a meeting with the government on the matter.
The government had on Monday given the vendors a final notice to remove makeshift stalls, sheds, carts, caravans, motor vehicles, and other receptacles used for vending, warning that failure to comply would result in their removal
The situation took a dramatic turn at around 11:13 pm on Monday with Narine lying in the path of a truck to prevent the removal of a caravan. He also uttered a statement which triggered condemnation from various sections of society.
Narine issued a statement of apology on Tuesday morning to members of religious bodies, Muslim, Hindu and Christian. “I unfortunately made statements that members of the Christian, Muslim and Hindu and religious bodies found offensive and I unreservedly apologise.”
Narine’s remarks attracted condemnation by Government Ministers, religious organisations and the Private Sector Commission. There were also calls for Narine to resign.