DPP discontinues charge against lawyer accused of using racial slurs

The private criminal charge filed against attorney-at-law Nirvan Singh for allegedly using racial remarks or slurs against an Afro-Guyanese police constable, was on Wednesday discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.

Singh of Middle and Cummings Street, Georgetown made his second appearance before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

During the hearing, the court was informed that the charge was discontinued by the DPP, who in a letter, cited Article 187 (1) of Guyana’s Constitution, which gives her the power to do so.

“In the exercise of the powers conferred on me by article 187 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, I hereby discontinue the charge in the above matter,” the DPP wrote in a letter dated April 27, 2022, to the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

The complainant, Shawnette Bollers, with the aid of her attorney, Eusi Anderson had instituted the charge against Singh back in April.

Anderson, when contacted by the News Room on Wednesday, confirmed that he received a letter from the DPP, informing him of her decision.

The attorney said his client plans to take further legal action against Singh.

It is alleged that Singh, on March 20, 2022, at his residence, by means of words spoken by him in a public place, willfully excited and/or attempted to excite hostility and ill-will against Bollers on the grounds of her race by using racial remarks and slurs.

Singh had pleaded not guilty and was released on $100,000 bail.