Dear Editor,
Although there is a resident Magistrate who is functioning regularly in Region 2 which stretches from Pomeroon to Supenaam, a police inspector (name provided) is instituting charges against traffic offenders here with instructions to appear at a court in Georgetown.
Two such offenders (names and addresses provided) from this district had to travel at their expense to answer charges before a Magistrate in the city and this is not in keeping with the legal administrative system.
Why the Inspector is doing so is baffling when considering that the presiding Magistrate for the three courts in the Region is always available to deal with such matters, so what’s the purpose for having a person in such a capacity here?
Presently, I am in possession of two station bail receipts for $5,000 each with both dated 07-01-30 and bearing the Numbers 880334 and 880335 respectively for me as the driver of mini bus BHH 7602 and the other for the conductor Bashir Prashad to attend court in Georgetown on 07-02-05.
While I was driving along the Affiance public road on 07-01-30 the Inspector stopped the vehicle and requested to see my documents which were shown to him with the exception of the Road Service License though I have this, but it was not with me at the time.
For reasons best known to the inspector, he advised me and my conductor to report at the Anna Regina Police Station where we were placed on cash bail with instructions from him to attend court in Georgetown as can be seen in writing on the receipts for the money lodged and attached for your guidance.
No mention was made of the offences being committed but the impecunious position of the two of us was made known to the inspector and our being unable to pay the travelling expenses to appear in a city court.
The Inspector is still in possession of the Fitness and Road Service Licence which I subsequently gave to him and these according to him “I will keep forever so that the bus must not work.”
For several days the bus was impounded for no justifiable reason whatsoever and when it would be released is still unknown.
But all along the unbearable harassment from an abuse of authority is seriously affecting my survival as a family man with four children.
Several other drivers and conductors in the district are faced with the same predicament. They too have given their support in condemning this abominable situation.
Yours faithfully,
Azim Mohammed & others
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to the Acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene for investigation.
