Dear Editor,
Many persons including me in Region #2 which stretches from the Pomeroon to Supenaam are flabbergasted by the letter from Attorney-at-law, Haimraj B Rajkumar, captioned “The question of bail was fully argued with precedents cited before the Magistrate before bail was granted.”
The lawyer was admitted to the bar about two months ago.
Even the Minister of Home Affairs as reported in the Kaieteur News had criticised the Magistrate for granting bail at the Anna Regina court to robbery accused Thompson and Courtman.
The Magistrate was also condemned for doing so in serious and prevalent offences by the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and other organizations in the district.
It is of importance to note that in his letter the lawyer completely ignored the safety of the public which is paramount at all times.
The lawyer stated that on the basis of fairness, the Magistrate did what was right to grant bail to the two accused both of whom lived on the Essequibo Coast and in considering that they were not arrested at the road block nor were they in possession of any M 70 automatic rifle.
Fairness must be for the criminals, but what about the society? The police must have had good reasons to link the two of them with the brutal attack executed on a businessman and others on his premises in the district although their accomplices were the ones to be arrested at the road block and in whose possession the rifle and ammunition were found.
Public opinion here stands firm with the distinct belief that there was no justifiable reason for the two accused to be granted bail by the magistrate. While the issue of bail is questionable, it goes further as to why it was fixed at such a nominal amount as $75,000.00.
The police had to file an appeal against a decision of this magistrate to jail a man for two years for trafficking in narcotics when the minimum statutory penalty for the offence is three years imprisonment.
It can be verified at the Chancellor’s office that numerous complaints have been made against this Magistrate since he assumed duties in the Essequibo district. He was the first person in this capacity ever to be picketed there while presiding at the Anna Regina court.
Yours faithfully,
Herman Peters
