One man out of the 29 people charged with breaking curfew by attending a social gathering at Club Paris pleaded guilty today.
Forty-year-old Dwayne Fenty admitted in the District “A” Criminal Court No.2 that he did attend a social at Crumpton Street, St Michael on Friday during curfew without a reasonable excuse.
Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes fined him $5 000 in 20 weeks or six months.
Barbados is under 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew until midnight May 17 with restrictions on large gatherings in order to combat the spread of the very contagious and potentially deadly coronavirus, COVID-19.
Owners of the club Stephen Ernest Walcott, 50, of #48 Cottage Heights, St George and Corie Oneale Holder, 40, of #179 Elizabeth also appeared in court. They were represented by attorney Dennis Headley and were placed on $3 000 and a longer curfew.
In Walcott’s case, Headley said he was a farmer who had to look after his produce so his curfew runs from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. while Holder’s runs from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. They return to court on August 12.
Fenty, of Emerald Park West, St Philip said that he was merely dropping off money and got caught up when someone gave him a drink and he ended up stopping to chat with people he knew.
Station Sergeant Carrison Henry told the court that police responded to a report about a social at the corner of Crumpton and Roebuck Streets, a stone’s throw from the Central Police Station. They arrived to find the persons gathering around 7:15 p.m. without a reasonable excuse during curfew when there was restriction on gatherings.
Chief Magistrate Weekes told Fenty his explanation sounded “shaky” and he knew he was at a “bashment”. He questioned Fenty as to whether he did not consider that he should have avoided bunching with others rather than gladly receiving a drink and lingering.
The other persons who appeared, including four non-nationals, were put on $3 000 bail to appear in the District “D” Magistrate’s Court on different dates between July 21 and August 11. (AC)
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