Thursday February 27, 2014
Civilians hold vigil outside GHRA in solidarity with abused toddler
The injured baby’s eyes
A
bout fifty persons from different walks of life last evening stood united as they gathered in front of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) on Hadfield Street and Austin Place, in the city, in solidarity with the one-yearold toddler who was recently abused by her babysitter. The demonstrators who picketed the Association stated that they are in total disagreement with the position taken by the Human Rights Association on the matter. .On February 14 last, 19year-old baby sitter Fatima Martin was sentenced to five years imprisonment after she confessed to inflicting grievous bodily harm on the one-year-old child under her care. Reports are that the babysitter, who flew in a fit of rage, dealt the toddler several slaps and even choked her. Amidst public outcry over the sentence, pro-bono lawyers moved to appeal the sentence and have since secured $100,000 bail for the young woman.
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Kaieteur News
The GHRA had decried the sentence, stating that the court extradited the case and handed down a harsh and undeserving prison term. The group of persons who gathered last evening claimed however that the decision by the High Court to grant the woman bail is sending the wrong message to the Guyanese society. They believe that child abusers should feel the brunt of the law. Sarah Balgobin, the organiser of the vigil, stated that it is the hope of the group to achieve public support against the recent action taken which, according to her, is an injustice to the defenseless child. “There have so far been a lot of mixed reactions. Many persons are supporting this young lady who has battered this child and I cannot understand that. How can you support a woman who did something so heinous?” she questioned. Balgobin believes that the real point has been missed and the true victim has been overlooked. “This
is a child who was beaten, and that should be the whole point of this. We want to highlight that a child was beaten. Not who the parents are or what they do.” She stated that too much attention has been given to the ethnicity of the babysitter and the parents of the afflicted child who are Attorneys-at-Law (one of whom is a serving Magistrate). “We want to make sure that justice is served for this little girl. She could have been my child, your child, or anybody’s child. Almost everyone I asked stated that they would have acted harshly had their child been abused.” “A message should be sent to people who are beating children. They should know that they should not be doing this because you will face the full force of the law. Aren’t you supposed to pay for a crime that you committed?” Balgobin indicated that the peaceful protest will continue today and tomorrow at the GHRA building from 19:00 hours.
Linden biker dies after slamming into timber truck A motorcyclist from the mining town of Linden died on the spot last night when he crashed into the back of a truck on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway in the vicinity of Kara Kara. The dead man has been identified as auto salesman, Lloyd Smith, also known as ‘Junior Street Boy’, who is believed to be in his early twenties. According to reports, Smith had overtaken a car and slammed into the back of a lumber truck which was travelling in the same direction. The impact hurled him from the bike and onto the road. Relatives and friends who later got news of the tragedy screamed in anguish when they arrived on the scene and saw the body of the father of one child sprawled on the roadway. Kaieteur News understands that Smith had acquired the Kawasaki motorcycle only a few days ago.
Lloyd Smith
Guyanese on US$50,000 for undeclared US$35,000 A N e w Yo r k - b a s e d Guyanese was arrested last week by US authorities after he failed to declare more than US$26,000 in cash that he was carrying. Vilton Bourne, 30, has since been placed on US$50,000 bail. According to a complaint by Special Agent, Gregory Stemkowski, of the Department of Homeland Security, Bourne was set to travel to Guyana on February 19 on a Caribbean Airlines flight to Guyana. Personnel from the Customs and Border Protection at the JFK International Airport selected him for an “outboard enforcement” examination. When asked, he declared US$9,000 and signed a form. However, he reportedly presented US$10,000 to the officers, the complaint said. He was asked if he had other cash and Bourne replied in the negative. According to the Special Agent, the security officials took his two pieces of
Charged: Vilton Bourne
luggage and searched them. There was US$10,000 in each. In the defendant’s wallet, the officials discovered that Bourne had US$5,577. He was arrested. In total, the complaint said Bourne had US$35,577. Bourne was charged with knowingly and with intent to evade the currency reporting requirements, he attempted to transport the cash from the US.
On February 20, he appeared before Judge Cheryl Pollak of the Eastern District of New York Court. Bourne was ordered held until February 24 when he was placed on US$50,000 bail. According to the court documents, there may be a possibility of the plea bargain. Bourne was ordered not to leave the New York area until the matter is completed.