Durant gets community service; cautions about social media misuse

Akeem Durant has been ordered to complete 80 hours of community service after pleading guilty to sending an electronic communication that was menacing in character and caused annoyance, distress or anxiety to Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams.
The 27-year-old of Breedy Land, Christ Church reappeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna in the Oistins Magistrates’ Court, where the order was made.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY outside the court, an apologetic Durant warned others to be careful about what they post online.
“Watch what you post, even on your WhatsApp, because if it gets into the wrong hands…” he said, admitting he did not fully consider the consequences of his actions.

Abrahams, who was present in court, also spoke to Barbados TODAY afterwards. He said he was satisfied that Durant had not intended the fallout that followed.
“I can’t be a lawyer for 30-plus years and be looking to criminalise a youngster for foolishness. He came to my office and gave a heartfelt apology,” Abrahams said.

He explained that he recommended community service and asked that, once successfully completed, Durant’s record remain clean with no conviction recorded.
Abrahams added that he was relieved the viral video did not affect the polls and cautioned Barbadians to be mindful of their use of social media, noting that it can have far-reaching consequences.