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The sentence of five years each was handed down during a special sitting at the Reliance Magistrate Court, East Canje, Berbice, where Candace Abigale Anderson, along with her common-law husband, Wesley Hart, alias ‘Stone’, of Lot 76 Middle Street, Pourderoyen, West Bank Demerara stood speechless at the delivery.
Their lawyer, Peter Hugh, was absent at the sentencing.
The case which was prosecuted by Sergeant Godfrey Platter, and Corporal Orin Joseph, revealed twelve witnesses who testified in the New Amsterdam Court that the four girls were recruited from Berbice and transported to Itabali and Okobackdam in the Essequibo County, where they were harboured for purpose of exploitation.
The hearings, which started in December 2012, commenced with the testimony of a now seventeen year old victim who incidentally, is a mother of a three year old son.
Police had charged the couple who were initially placed on $250,000 bail each.
The victim had related to the court that on April 15, 2012, she was passing a barber shop at Main and Pitt Street, when a Rasta man asked her if she wanted to work in the bush [interior]
After responding in the affirmative, she went home. An hour later, the Rasta man whom she had earlier spoken with, along with Candace Abigale Anderson, arrived at her home in a taxi.
Anderson told me that I was going to work at a shop, and she will pay me $80,000 per week. I did not say anything’.
The teenager said her grandmother, with whom she lived, was not at home, neither was her son, as they had gone to church.
‘I joined the taxi which was waiting,” she related. “Another man was in the vehicle, which proceeded to Angoy’s Avenue [a squatting area on the eastern fringe of the New Amsterdam township], where my cousin, also aged 16, was picked up. We then proceeded to Demico House in New Amsterdam where we had something to eat.’
According to the former Vryman’sErven Secondary School student, she did not have anything except the clothes she was wearing, but her cousin had taken a bag with clothing.
“The woman told me she had clothes to fit me, and after picking up two other girls, we left for Georgetown in another taxi. After a stop at Stabroek Market, we travelled to Pourderoyen where Abigale lives.
The witness said they occupied the back building and they were given something to eat, and the following day they returned to Georgetown where they purchased clothes and toiletries.
“We returned to Abigale’s house at Pourderoyen where a minibus was waiting to take us to Parika, thereafter a boat took us to Bartica”.
Continuing she said, “At Bartica , Abigale and her husband left us in the care of her son. They went out. We stayed at a hotel. Three girls stayed in one room, while the other girl [ name given] slept in another room with Abigale’s son.
“On April 17, last, we left Bartica by boat and journeyed to Ithabali landing .We were questioned by police. Abigale told us to say we were 18 years old .The other girls gave different ages, instead of their correct age. Abigale and her met us later. They placed us in a cruiser, which took us to Okobackdam. The three girls [names given], along with Abigale’s son, came off the cruiser as they were afraid that the police would not pass them. They took another trail on foot, and caught up with us a mile away”.
The teenage mother recalled that while they were at Oko backlands, Abigale told them to pack the things which were bought before requesting that they a bath before occupying separate rooms.
“Abigale’s shop worker, [name given], gave us Banko and Guinness, and I fell to the ground. Two of the other girls were placed to dance striptease for visiting men. One of the teenagers was menstruating, and had to leave regularly to tidy herself. The next day, I left for the road where I met a man and asked him for a telephone call to New Amsterdam. I told my mother Abigale wanted $47,000 before she could release me. The amount dropped to $37,000. Abigale’s son found me. Abigale slapped my face. She told me I had to pick fares to repay her, and afterwards locked me in the room.”
The virtual complainant noted that the following morning Abigale opened the door and told her to wash the clothes and the sheets, she had bought for her.
“On completion, Abigale took me, two of the other girls and her worker up the hill to make a call to my mother. Abigale told my mother if she can’t get $27,000 to give the Rasta man, I cannot return home. After the call, Abigale pushed me. I almost fell off the hill. I eventually left. I met two men and I asked them the way out. I subsequently arrived at the Ithaballi Police Station. I was later contacted by two members of the Miners Association, to whom I related my story. They also took me to Bartica Police Station”
