$100,000 bail for Mayor Narine, Sherod Duncan for racist remarks

Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine and Opposition Parliamentarian Sherod Duncan were each placed on $100,000 bail for obstructing traffic and attempting to incite racial and ethnic division in the country.

Narine and Duncan were arrested on Wednesday and charged under Guyana’s Racial Hostility Act related to statements made against the Muslim community and President Dr Irfaan Ali.

The charges against the City Mayor were read to him at City Hall in Georgetown. A party of Policemen arrived at City Hall to escort the Mayor to the Brickdam Police station to answer the charges. Duncan was also in the building. The two were escorted to the Brickdam station on foot to the chants of many vendors who came out in support of the Mayor.

The charges were filed against the two following an investigation by the Police and advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

It was recommended that Narine and Duncan be charged for attempting to excite hostility or ill will on the ground of race. Narine was also charged with two counts of obstructing traffic related to his actions in front of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation when vendors were being removed on Monday.

Duncan was charged with one count of the same offence.

Both Duncan and Narine were also charged for using a computer system to attempt to excite ethnic division on the ground of race.

When the Police arrived at City Hall on Wednesday, vendors in support of Narine attempted to prevent him from being escorted to the Brickdam Police Station when the officers showed up by laying on the ground in front of the Mayor’s office.