A MOTHER’S LOT?
(The Citizen Your Evening Newspaper July 4, 1977)
It was a busy Tuesday afternoon for the Magistrate at Court I, Georgetown.The cases were of the routine type – simple larceny, common assault, assault causing actual bodily harm, indecent language and the like.
One would have treated them all as routine but for the pleading of a middle aged woman:”I is he mother sah-I is he mother.”
Earlier the youth Maxwell had pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of bora from Sookla a vendor at Bourda Market.
Explaining before Chief Magistrate Alexander, Maxwell said that he was coming from the Wendy Alleyene show at the National Park when he saw the basket of bora and took out four bundles. Ah tek them ah din steal them,” he pleaded.
“But you said that you are an ice cone vendor,” the Magistrate interrupted, ”How would you like it if someone took cones from your cart?”
“Ah wouldn’t like it, ”Maxwell replied.
“I fine you $50 or one month’s imprisonment,” the Magistrate told Maxwell.
“Ah can pay the fine now?” Maxwell asked.
“I am afraid not,” replied the Magistrate. “Unlike in the UK where one can pay a fine up to one minute before closing time, in this country the clerks do not accept fines after 3 o’clock. I am afraid you will have to pay the fine tomorrow.”
Then from the small gathering in the Court room came a pitiful plea: “Ah begging for a month to pay; I ent got all the money now. I is he mother.”
The Magistrate was taken by surprise.
Turning to Maxwell, he commented: “I thought you said you had the money to pay now?”
“Ah thought me mother had the money to pay now.”
“Madam, you are going to pay the fine although he is working. Do you know this is encouraging him in stealing?” the Magistrate asked.
The trembling old lady stared at the Magistrate momentarily then said: “I is he mother Sah. I ent encouraging he but I is he mother.”
The Magistrate nodded. Perhaps he was thinking: ”That’s a mother’s lot. But is it really? (Crown Prince).
ON DRINKS AND GLASSES
(The Citizen Your Evening Newspaper July 5, 1977)
Some liquor restaurant owners, in an effort to up their profit margin have been recycling sanitary cups without let or hindrance.
This is that they have been collecting cups already used by customers and issuing them for re-use to others.
This practice introduced on a small scale at first has now reached alarming proportions and can affect the nation’s health to such an extent as to cause an epidemic.
Restaurateurs have said that when they supply glasses to customers the majority of them either steal or break them and hence they could not constantly keep replenishing them because of their high cost.
The businessmen therefore argued that sanitary cups were the logical alternative since they are much cheaper.
While all the frequent visitors to these spots agreed that it was wrong to consume from cups already used some conceded that with the problems posed by customers, owners were forced to seek the best way out-solely from an economic standpoint.
Meanwhile, other persons concerned about the health of others and themselves feel that the Public Health Department should immediately take action to safeguard the health of the nation.
WOUNDED BY ARROW
(The Citizen Your Evening Newspaper July 6, 1977)
A teenaged hunter was air dashed to the city last night with an arrow in the left arm.
Keith Moses 17 of Orinduik was later admitted to the Georgetown Hospital.
According to reports Moses was in company with three kids aback of the village hunting for wild meats when in an attempt to hit one of the animals with his arrow it slipped and lodged in his arm.
A hospital source said that the arrow was removed last night during an emergency operation.
ROY OR LEROY?
The age old question: “What’s in a name?” was once again raised yesterday when two names went on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates Court.
This came about after Roy Gordon a remanded prisoner answered and pleaded guilty to a charge made out in the name of one Leroy Gordon who had absconded from Court.
After the prosecutor finished reading the facts to the Court Roy claimed that he was charged with stealing pants’ lengths and not a gold bangle as the evidence disclosed.
After the accused was ascertained to be the person he claimed to be, the Magistrate cancelled the facts and issued and issued a warrant for Leroy.
INJURED BY STING RAY
(The Citizen Your Evening Newspaper July 8, 1977)
Doctors and Nurses at the Georgetown Hospital last night was trying to save the life of a young fisherman Maurice Ramcoobeer, 25, of Bee Hive Demerara.
According to reports Ramcoobeer was fishing in the Atlantic Ocean when he was wounded by a Sting Ray, a fish known to be very dangerous.
Immediately he was hit by the fish he headed for shore.
WHAT “TWO BEERS” DID TO CLAUDE
(The Citizen Your Evening Newspaper July 14, 1977)
It is not uncommon for someone who has had some drinks to indulge in some form of escapade or another.
Such adventures do have happy endings sometimes. But not so for Claude who got himself into trouble with the Police one Sunday afternoon and as a result ended before a Magistrate in a City court.
Claude after a hard week of manual labour, thought to himself that he had earned the right to indulge in some drinks.
So although he had no friend with him, he bought two bottles of beer and drank them off.
In no time, the spirits took toll and Claude was no longer master of his actions. In an effort to dance, he was making a professional contortionist look second rate and as a result a large crowd gathered around, egging him on.
The crowd attracted some policemen who were passing and as they were about to enquire, Claude stepped out of the crowd and boldly threw himself into the path of the vehicle.
While the horn blared, Claude took no heed.
Instead he shouted: “Allyuh want to jam me… jam me…jam me.”
A Policeman declared his intention to arrest Claude but the protagonist hit out and injured the Policeman’s mouth and the lawman had to be treated at the Georgetown Hospital.
In court, Claude said he was lying on the road because they “they” wanted to mash him.”
In answer to the Magistrate:”Do you want to die?” Claude said: “No.”
He denied cursing or cuffing an policeman at any time.
Claude told the Magistrate that he had been drinking beers.
“How many?” the Magistrate asked.
“Two your worship.”
After the Prosecutor interjected with: ”He was probably chasing with a quarter. ” A round of restrained laughter went up.
“You got a girlfriend? “the Magistrate enquired.
“Yes,” Claude replied.
“If you make a car run over you, you will die and your girlfriend will surely miss you,” said the Magistrate.
Claude did not answer but with the advice still ringing in his ears he walked out the courtroom a lucky man since the magistrate had only reprimanded and discharged him.
(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 657 2043)
