Mayor Ubraj Narine, Sherod Duncan charged for racist remarks

City Mayor Ubraj Narine and Opposition Parliamentarian Sherod Duncan on Wednesday faced charges 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 downtown Georgetown. A party of Policeman 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.

The Mayor then proceeded to walk to the Brickdam Police Station flocked by the vendors singing and chanting “We shall overcome.”

President Ali on Tuesday expressed his disgust and zero tolerance for people who seek to divide the country by using race and religion.