Taxi driver remanded for possession of unlicensed firearm

A taxi driver has been remanded to prison after being charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, following his arrest alongside three others during a foiled robbery attempt in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Jayz Halley, 23, of Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown, appeared at the Reliance Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Michelle Matthias.

Halley was charged with the offence of possession of a firearm without a licence in connection with an incident that occurred on June 27, 2025. Police said he was among four men intercepted during a planned robbery at a Chinese supermarket in New Amsterdam.

According to a police statement, at approximately 14:00 hours on Thursday, June 27, two motor vehicles travelling from Georgetown were stopped by a Senior Police Officer and their team on the Berbice River Bridge access road.

During the stop, police discovered a .38 revolver bearing serial number J465543 concealed in a compartment beneath the steering wheel, along with five matching rounds of ammunition.

The suspects, all males from Georgetown aged between 18 and 29, were arrested and taken into custody.

The charge against Halley was laid under Section 16 (2)(a) of the Firearm Act, Chapter 16:05. He was not required to enter a plea.

Following the proceedings, Magistrate Matthias ordered that Halley be remanded to prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 21.