The death of Constable Michau Cort, 27, has prompted Magistrate Chandra Sohan to lambaste the police for not observing the rules governing the schedule for “music boxes” to play at public functions.
Cort of El Dorado Village, West Coast Berbice was gunned down during the Soca Monarch concert held on Saturday night at the Esplanade Park in New Amsterdam (NA), Berbice.
His alleged killer Dorset Mc Cammon was reportedly shot by a businessman as he attempted to flee. Dorset is still a patient at the NA Hospital and is under police guard.
The magistrate who was at the time conducting sessions at the NA Magistrate’s Court stated that “it is unfortunate that Constable Cort had been killed but had the police observed the rules Cort could have been alive today. Why is it that the ranks that were there did not bring the function to a close earlier?”
He hoped that Cort’s death would help officers to observe the rules in the future. The magistrate learnt that the music was played for about two hours after the stipulated time and said that is too long. He noted that this is not the first time this has happened.
According to him ranks need to warn the promoters about an hour in advance so that the activity can be brought to an end on time. Magistrate Sohan pointed out that when shows go on for so long people get drunk and the police expose themselves to trouble.
Meanwhile, the magistrate pointed out that the liquor licence board had not granted licences for the past two years and any new liquor place would be operating illegally.
He made reference to a disco that was recently opened at Canefield, Canje. He said this business does not have a licence but carries on with loud music until the morning hours. This offence needs to be dealt with sternly, he declared.
