16 charged with ‘riotous behaviour’ during ECD protest

Following Tuesday’s protest along the East Coast of Demerara which turned violent after protesters lit debris on fire while other criminal elements robbed, looted and destroyed private property, some 16 persons were charged for riotous behaviour on Wednesday.

The charge is set out in Section 136 (b) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act Chapter 8:02.

Police Headquarters said the accused persons appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore where the charges were read to them and with the exception of Andrew Sumner, they pleaded not guilty.

Bail was granted to them in the sum of $15,000 each.

Sumner was fined $20,000 and the remaining 15 cases were adjourned to October 19, 2022.

Police said the accused are:

1. Rondolph Murphy, 50-year-old male of Belfield Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara
2. Jawonza Fowler, 18-year-old male of Hackett Street, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara
3. Michael Moore, 23-year-old male of Victoria, East Coast Demerara
4. Rawl Griffith, 45-year-old male of Haslington, East Coast Demerara
5. George Teixy, 31-year-old male of Haslington, East Coast Demerara
6. Daniel Thomas, 19-year-old male of Haslington, East Coast Demerara
7. Legendi Pompey, 33-year-old male of Haslington, East Coast Demerara
8. Seon Austin, 31-year-old male of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara
9. Quice Lawrence, 40-year-old male of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara
10. Winston James, 23-year-old male of Victoria, East Coast Demerara
11. Andrew Sumner, 59-year-old male of Victoria, East Coast Demerara
12. Shentel Caesar, 25-year-old of Melanie, ECD
13. Rondel Clarke, 21-year-old male of Ann’s Grove, ECD
14. Shamar Payne, 23-year-old male of Bachelor’s Adventure, ECD
15. Kevon Nicholas, 18-year-old male of Haslington, ECD
16. Kester Paul, 24-year-old male of Haslington, ECD

None of those charged are linked to the beating and robbery of vendors who also had their property damaged at Mon Repos market, East Coast Demerara

Residents were protesting the killing of 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus who was shot by a cop at Haslington on June 10 during an alleged undercover police operation.

But this protest, which commenced at Golden Grove, extended to several East Coast Demerara communities.

It was at the Mon Repos market that it turned violent; a minibus and several stalls were set on fire and vendors were beaten and robbed.