After Benschop, Witter…
CARIBBEAN Congress of Labour (CCL) General Secretary Lincoln Lewis, who was also slapped with charges following the picketing outside Police Headquarters, in Georgetown, last July, made his first Court appearance yesterday.

Before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson, he pleaded not guilty to unlawful assembly, resisting a peace officer and disorderly behaviour.

Lewis, 60, of Lot 9 Lichfield, West Coast Berbice, is one of three defendants, including pardoned treason accused Mark Benschop and other trade unionist Norris Witter, who were charged following the July 15 protest.

Benschop, 37, of Lot 183 Roxanne Burnham Gardens and Witter, 57, of Lot 35 Cauliflower Street, South Ruimveldt, also in Georgetown, had appeared in Court on July 20 but Lewis was absent.

One of the charges said Lewis, in Young Street, Eve Leary, unlawfully assembled with Benschop, Witter and others unknown.

Particulars of another charge said, the same day, Lewis resisted Police Inspector Terrence Brown, who was acting in the execution of his duties.

It is also alleged that, in a public way, the defendant behaved in a disorderly manner that day.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, who represented Lewis, too, said the latter had been released on station bail but had to be in Barbados when the cases were previously called.

Defence Counsel contended it is the constitutional right of the trio to assemble in front of a Police station and Lewis, like Benschop and Witter, was allowed to sign his own recognisance.

They are all to be back in Court on October 7.

Benschop and Witter had pleaded not guilty, as well, to similar charges that Lewis faced yesterday.