Merchant, father, son remanded to Dodds despite leniency pleas

Breaches of COVID-19 rules are getting worse Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes declared Wednesday as he remanded three remorseful men – a shopkeeper and a father and son – to Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds in a bid to send a clear message that the court has taken a hardline stance on lawbreakers.

The trio who appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on two separate cases began spending 28 days at the St Philip facility to await sentencing, their pleas for leniency falling on deaf ears.

“Can’t be doing that level of recklessness in a country that is terrified,” Weekes said to merchant Hamenauth Sarnedranauth after the Crown detailed his crime in court.

Sarnedranauth, 48, of Tudor Street, The City pleaded guilty to contravening the COVID-19 Directives by opening his non-essential business, Caribbean Heat, on February 14 and 16.

A City surveillance camera from the Royal Barbados Police Force Command Centre showed patrons entering the store and leaving with items, Crown Prosecutor Victoria Taitt told the court. Caribbean Heat was kept under surveillance and the second day the same activities were observed.

Sarnedranauth’s attorney told the chief magistrate that his client had wasted no time in admitting his guilt. He said on the two occasions, “longstanding” customers asked the first-time offender for beers, cokes or cigarettes and he assisted them. The lawyer said his client was extremely remorseful and urged the court to show some leniency by imposing a fine and to give him enough time to pay.

But Weekes asked the convicted man whether he knew the status of any of the customers, to which he answered “no”.

The Chief Magistrate said: “ As serious as we get, the worse we get. You cheated on the 14 and ease in a fella or two and then on the 16th you ease in another fella or two. So pause, stop, none of this means anything to you? I believe every Barbadian should be a patriot to this cause to keep all of us safe. You ain’t do it once, you do it twice.

“Clearly he poses a clear and present danger. A lot of Bajans are not getting it for whatever reason I don’t understand. We moved from seven deaths and we made a jump in a short space of time . . . We will just have to do whatever it takes to be patriots for the cause.

“Can’t be doing that level of recklessness in a country that’s terrified.”

Also before the magistrate were father and son Keith and Nathan Weithers of Alleyne’s Avenue, Bayland, St Michael, who pleaded guilty to breaching the directive by hosting a lime on February 7.

Special investigator with the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit, Ronald Cummins, told the court that responding to an anonymous tip, the unit saw several cars on the road and began their investigations which led to the Weithers’ backyard. A number of people were seen with alcoholic beverages, eating food and enjoying themselves, the magistrate heard. But when approached, both men admitted to hosting a party for friends.

Son Nathan Weithers told the court that he had been stuck in Jamaica for some time where he was studying when the pandemic struck. The situation took a toll on him mentally, he said, adding that he had only returned home recently.

He said friends stopped by and “me and my dad were outside drinking already”.

Keith Weithers said he was also cooking that day and was to share with those who came so they could be on their way. But the cooking took longer than expected, he explained.

Chief Magistrate Weekes then made clear that wherever a Bajan had food and drinks “it becomes a lime”.

He added: “This is getting worse and worse. We have to understand what is happening in the place. Doctors are crying because these simple things we are not getting.”

The senior Weithers then pleaded for leniency, even asking the chief magistrate to allow his son to be allowed to go free.

“This is not Wheel of Fortune. This is madness!” Weekes told the Weithers. “Every time you host a lime or event it is placing people’s lives in danger. We are at a critical stage in time in this country.

“The partying, having businesses open, No. No. No. Bajans have to learn discipline; we have to do better in this place.

“Don’t think I take delight in remanding you pending a decision but we have now reached that stage in the country where something has to give. And I will be derelict in my duty if I didn’t try to do something to assist the process so people can understand. So I don’t take pride in locking up anybody.”

The three men will know their fate when they reappear before the court on March 16.
(fernellawedderburn@barbadostoday.bb)