22 mourners face charges over traffic violations during funeral procession

Twenty-two persons have been faced with traffic charges as a result of their actions during a funeral procession that resulted in severe obstruction to traffic, police said yesterday.

In a statement, police said the violations occurred during the funeral of Lloyd Hazel of Hill Street, Georgetown, which took place at the Le Repentir Cemetery last month.

According to the police, a number of motorists exhibited disregard of the law and in some instances disrespect for the police ranks who were making efforts to ensure that the free flow of traffic was maintained.

Charges for causing obstruction and failing to wear a safety helmet were among those instituted against the mourners in the procession.

Those charged with causing obstruction were Osaie Nedd of Campbellville Housing Scheme; Orlando Spencer of Lyng Street, Charlestown; Emanly Nedd of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD); Ronda Lowe of Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge; Wesley Anthony Saunders of Barrow Street, Republic Park, EBD; Mitchelle Henry of Holmes Street, South Cummingsburg and; Rawle Critchlow of Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt.

They were each issued $5,000 traffic tickets.

Karen Morris, of Hill Street, Lodge was also among those charged. She was issued a $10,000 traffic ticket after being arraigned on two counts of obstruction.

Anirudra Budhram of 10th Street, Cummings Lodge, was placed before the courts on June 3 and fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to obstruction charges as well.

Meanwhile, D’Andrade Street, Newtown resident Tamika Samuels, is to attend court on July 3 to answer the same charges.

Those charged with failing to wear safety helmets are: Travis Bowen of Independence Boulevard, La Penitence; Odessa and Hazel Alves of Lyng and Howes Streets, Charlestown; Carl Haynes of Freeman Street, East La Penitence; Sergio Irfan, of New Scheme, Grove; Jammal Ryan Eastman of d’Urban Street, Lodge; Lester King, of Lodge Housing Scheme; Basil Jeffrey, of Layou Street, North Ruimveldt; Dameon Bynoe of Damabeer Terrace, North Ruimveldt; Maxroy Jemmott of Plum Park, South Sophia; and Kurt Adrian Dickson of Holmes Street, South Cummingsburg.

They were each issued $5,000 traffic tickets.

Kester Sherwyn Evelyn, of Festival City, North Ruimveldt, is to attend court on July 4 to answer the charge of failing to wear safety helmet also.

Hazel was fatally shot at Main Street, Georgetown, on May 9, by a private security guard during an armed robbery committed on a salesman of the Fix It Hardware Store by himself and an accomplice.