Court action intended to discourage offenders – ERC
– calls on Guyanese to avoid making racially insensitive statements
Kaieteur News – The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has recently moved to the courts, and is actively working to stop the spread of racial discouragement among Guyanese, especially on social media.
In a statement, the body noted that it had instituted legal proceedings against eight defaulters – three in December 2020, four in January 2021 and one so far in February, 2021.
When their cases were called at Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, five people pleaded guilty to offenses committed separately. The charges filed were for excruciating hostility or racial ill will under the Racial Hostility Act and for causing racial or ethnic violence or hatred under the Representation of the People Act.
The five defendants who pleaded guilty – John Gobin, Lashonna Chester, Stacy Smartt, Glynis Gibson and Tiffiny Greene, were all fined for the offenses 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 Georgetown Magistrates ‘Courts was adjourned by Magistrate Leron Daly until March 1, 2021 for trial while the Rampersaud matter was adjourned until March 19 by Magistrate Peter Hugh at Fort Wellington Magistrates’ Court, West Coast Berbice.
The ERC is once again urging citizens to promote tolerance and understanding, especially towards those of different ethnicities for a better country.