CHIEF Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, last Thursday, banned Stabroek News reporters from entering her courtroom and declared that, before they can resume reporting from there, an editor must first accompany them.

The Chief Magistrate presides over Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and the ban was occasioned by an article that appeared in the Stabroek News last Thursday under the caption ‘Girl, 17, remanded over ganja possession’.
Last Wednesday, at about 11:00 hrs, the magistrate ordered everyone, including reporters, out of the courtroom to facilitate an in camera hearing.
The following day, the report, with the girl’s name and other details appeared in the newspaper. It also incorrectly stated that the case was being prosecuted by Police Corporal Seon Blackman when, in fact, it had been a Customs Anti- Narcotics Unit (CANU) matter.
That day, Ms. Sewnarine-Beharry, reportedly, spoke to the reporters who were in court about the publication of the in-camera matter. They were asked to leave the courtroom and return with an editor no later than 12 noon on Friday.
The magistrate has often had to speak with reporters of that newspaper about inaccurate reporting.
It is reported that Stabroek News Editor, Cheryl Springer met with the Chief Magistrate in chambers yesterday.