In Berbice…
SCHOOL teacher Ronald Forde, who is allegedly to have engaged in sexual activities with a child by abusing his position of trust, was remanded to prison after he was denied bail by Magistrate Roby Benn at the Fort Wellington Court yesterday. He is charged under Section 18 of the Sexual Offences Act, Number 7, which was acceded to by President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2010.

According to particulars of the offence, Forde, a 25- year-old bachelor of Lot 2 Section ‘A’, Bel Air, West Coast Berbice, between September 1 and October 31, 2010, at Fort Wellington Secondary School, allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a teenager, by penetrating her vagina with his penis, and, at the material time, the said child was only fourteen years old and a student receiving instruction at the said learning institution at which the defendant was a teacher.

Particulars of the offence also said Forde did not reasonably believe that the victim was eighteen years or over, and he knew or reasonably could have expected to have known of the position of trust he held in relation to the minor.

In the West Berbice Courtroom, media operatives were expelled, following instructions from the Magistrate to the Court Orderly to have members of the public –and media, removed.

However, as the reporters remained seated when the order was again issued, Attorney-at-Law Dridnauth Perry Gossai informed the Court that the persons seated were members of the press.

At that stage, the Magistrate told his Orderly to obey his instruction or he will leave the bench.

Consequently, the Berbice media operatives were forced to listen to the court proceedings, from outside the building.

Meanwhile, following the reading of the charge, Sergeant Grace Bristol, prosecuting, objected to bail, based on the nature and gravity of the charge, arguing that the accused may flee the jurisdiction and may tamper with the witness.

Added to this, the Police Prosecutor told the court that the defendant was previously charged with a similar offence.

Defence Counsel Charrandas Persaud, responding, informed the court that his client is in the teaching profession for seven years now.

The lawyer argued that nature and gravity is not a legal reason for objecting to pre-trial liberty. However, he said the defendant is willing to have himself removed from the school, until the matter is resolved.

In addition, he said Forde will remove himself from the locality and is willing to render his passport to the authorities, while reporting weekly to a police station.

Persaud also vehemently denied the statement of prosecution which revealed that his client was previously charged. “My client has emphatically stated that he was never charged before,” Persaud said.

The lawyer for the defence also informed the court that his client is an active member of the community, and that his pastor has been very supportive during the unfortunate ordeal.

“It’s a mere allegation; it’s a bailable offence,” the lawyer argued.

“This matter is not the first carnal knowledge to have appeared in the local courts. Yet, it has received international recognition,” the lawyer observed.

At that stage, Magistrate Benn interjected and questioned whether the lawyer’s utterance was relevant to the bail application.

“Is that all”, he asked, before receiving a positive respond from Persaud.
Directing his remarks to the Police Prosecutor, Magistrate Benn asked for the commencement date of the trial, and thereafter received a response of March 31.

However, he said: “From the time the charge is laid, you have forty-five days [referring to a paper committal hearing]. March 31, is beyond that period. Let’s fix March 2, for report and on that date you will indicate what is the position.
You can ask for an extension to March 16. The case is transferred to Fort Wellington Court on March 2. Bail is refused.”

Outside of the courthouse, the defence counsel said the action by armed police to arrest his client in the presence of his pupils at their learning institution has left much to be desired.

Consequently, the Berbice-based lawyer has issued a call to the Honourable Minister of Human Services and Social Security Ms. Priya Manickhand to send personnel to counsel students who remains traumatized by the ordeal.