Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Sherod Duncan were both arrested and placed on $100,000 bail this afternoon for “attempting to excite ethnic and racial division in Guyana”. According to the police, the duo also stands accused of obstructing traffic.
The charges stemmed from Narine and Duncan’s attempts at avoiding the movement of a vehicle that was shuttling stalls and other apparatuses used by vendors on New Market Street, in the vicinity of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The items were being removed by the Public Works Ministry in an attempt to stop illegal vending and encumbrances along the thoroughfare leading to the hospital.
Duncan and Narine were seen lying under a motor lorry in protest.
According to the force, the undermentioned charges were recommended against Narine and Duncan:
1. Ubraj Narine be charged with the offence of obstructing Traffic, contrary to Section 61 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02 in relation to placing a wooden pallet on New Market Street.
2, Ubraj Narine and Sherod Duncan be jointly charged with the offence of using a computer system to attempt to excite ethnic divisions on the ground of race, Contrary to Section 18(2) of the Cyber Crime Act, No. 16 of 2018 (an indictable offence).
3. Ubraj Narine and Sherod Duncan be jointly charged with the offence of Attempting to excite hostility or ill will on the ground of race, contrary to Section 2(1)(a) of the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01
