Jones, Ferguson, others charged for gathering outside High Court for elections petition ruling

Opposition Members of Parliament Christopher Jones and Annette Ferguson, along with four others, were on Friday released on $20,000 bail each for allegedly participating in an illegal procession.

Jones, Ferguson, along with Mark Griffith, Travis Ellis, Gordon Lucas and George Halley all appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Gary Morris and Malcom Billison were charged jointly but were absent in court; this caused Magistrate Daly to issue a summons for them.

Jones, Ferguson, Griffith, Ellis, Lucas and Halley were charged in relation to gathering outside the High Court for the election petition ruling.

They denied that on April 26, 2021, between Croal and Regent Streets, Georgetown, that they took part in a procession without the permission of the Chief Officer of Police, having first being obtained. They were each released on $20,000 bail.

Meanwhile, Ferguson was slapped with a separate charge for allegedly obstructing a police officer while in the execution of his duties on the same date and location. She pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on $10,000 bail.

The matter was adjourned until May 14 for statements.

The defendants were represented by attorneys-at-law Darren Wade, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Joseph Harmon, and Ronald Daniels.

Outside of court, Harmon spoke to the media and said the charges against his clients were “trumped up” and are politically motivated.

Wade said that the charges are “frivolous and vexatious” and will be dismissed eventually.