OWNER of Television Station Channel 6 and Leader of the Justice For All Party, Chandra Narine Sharma, who is facing a carnal knowledge charge, has filed a constitutional motion, seeking six declarations and 26 grounds that are designed to provide him with a fair hearing. With the Attorney General named as Respondent, the motion is asking the court to declare among other things that the Applicant’s right to a fair hearing as guaranteed by Article 144 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana has been infringed.
The Applicant also wants the court to declare that his fundamental constitutional right to adequate time and facilities for preparation of his defence has been and is likely  to be infringed by the expedited trial of the charge against the Applicant when the applicant  has not been afforded adequate time within which to prepare his defence.
Attorney-at-Law representing the plaintiff/applicant, Mr. Nigel Hughes pointed that the Plaintiff’s/Applicant’s passport was a critical part of the conduct of his defence as it would indicate the dates on which the he was out of the country.
It was pointed out that while the minimum time in the Georgetown Magisterial District before a Preliminary Inquiry in case of carnal knowledge is commenced is six weeks, the  plaintiff’s/applicant’s case was set to commence within seven days of the filing of the charge against him   Ground 25 states that the plaintiff/applicant as a result of his class and financial standing has been subject to special and discriminatory treatment by the commencement of the hearing of the case against him within  seven days of the filing of the charge while other persons charged with similar offences are afforded different time lines.
The hearing of the Motion is to take place in the High Court shortly.   (George Barclay)