Latest update February 22nd, 2025 2:00 PM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

A questionable sentence

Nov 26, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
It was with disgust that I read your report in the November 12, 2014 edition “Man gets suspended sentence for 67 kilos of cocaine”. Magistrate Alex Moore sentenced the man to a suspended jail time after he pleaded guilty to trafficking in more than 67 kilograms of cocaine and for being in unlawful possession of 125, 12-gauge shotgun cartridges and 115, .32 rounds of ammunition. He was also fined a measly $2.5M or US$12,500.
This case highlights the disparity in sentencing, where other sections of society are sentenced to draconian time in prison for far lesser amounts of cocaine or offences. I am baffled also as to the magistrate’s reasoning in sentencing. Is it that he is intimidated by the man’s obvious connections to the PPP and by extension the government or was there collusion between him and the defendant?
Which brings me to an even more shameful development and concern that go deep into the dilemma in which Guyana finds itself. The defense attorney for the defendant and his family was James Bond, an APNU Member of Parliament and senior lawyer for the PNC.  If there was any illegal collusion (read bribe) between the defendant and magistrate, I am hard pressed to believe that the defence lawyer was not involved in the negotiations and/or also benefited financially for his services, beyond his legal fees.
There are other disturbing factors to this case that have racial overtones, but which I will leave to another place and time. Suffice to say, that it is similar to PPP tactics, of getting Afro-Guyanese to do their dirty work.
Bryan Thomas

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 14th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

 Slingerz FC shines at Guyana Energy Conference and Youth Forum

 Slingerz FC shines at Guyana Energy Conference and Youth Forum

Feb 22, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- Slingerz FC made a bold statement at the just-concluded Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, held at the Marriott Hotel, by blending the worlds of professional football...
Read More
Guyana’s rising Chess stars take on Barbados

Guyana’s rising Chess stars take on Barbados

Feb 22, 2025

Elite clubs will challenge KFC monopoly on team uniforms

Elite clubs will challenge KFC monopoly on team...

Feb 22, 2025

Bristol named manager as Guyana gears up for 2025 Caribbean Boxing Championship

Bristol named manager as Guyana gears up for 2025...

Feb 22, 2025

BCB puts a halt to cricket season due to inclement weather

BCB puts a halt to cricket season due to...

Feb 22, 2025

Changes made to KMTC Phagwah Horse race meet

Changes made to KMTC Phagwah Horse race meet

Feb 22, 2025

Features/Columnists

  • The clock and the cloud   

    Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Time, as the ancients knew, is a trickster. It slips through the fingers of kings and commoners... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]