A group of persons, including Opposition Members of Parliament have been charged with illegal procession and where placed on $20,000 bail.
Annette Ferguson, Christopher Jones, Mark Griffith, Travis Ellis, Gordon Lucas, and George Halley were this morning arraigned before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where they were slapped with a joint illegal procession charge.
According to the police, the charge is in contravention of section 5 of the criminal act. The particulars of the charge state that on the 26th April, 2021, between Croal and Regent Streets, Georgetown, they took part in a procession without permission from police being obtained. Ferguson was also charged with with obstructing a peace office.
The set of persons entered not guilty pleas and were placed on $20,000 bail while Ferguson was placed on $10,000 bail for her second charge. Her bail was set at $30,000 total.
The matters were adjourned until May 14. Attorneys-at-law, Darren Wade, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Joseph Harmon and Ronald Daniels are listed as attorneys in the matter.
Opposition leader Joseph Harmon spoke to a crowd of persons who gathered outside the court moments after the charges were read and said that the charges were instituted as a way for the police to go after members of the opposition. He added that the police have no evidence for charges. He said that it was their hope to have the charges brought forward and have the trial started but that the police asked for time.
Meanwhile, attorneys-at-law Darren Wade and Ronald Daniels said that the charges are vexatious.
The persons were charged following a march which occurred after the Chief Justice ruled on the election petition case.
They gathered outside the High Court, and the police indicated that permission was not granted. Ferguson was accused of spearheading the march.
