A minibus driver who was accused of causing death by dangerous driving at Houston Public Road, East Bank Demerara was granted $200,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty.

On Friday, May 24, twenty-four-year-old Paran Persaud of 31 Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara allegedly drove minibus BKK 1948 in a manner dangerous to the public and caused the death of eighty-year-old Ellen Margaret Jones at Houston Public Road.

The prosecutor told the court that the defendant was proceeding north on the western carriageway of Houston Public Road and the deceased was riding a bicycle in front of the bus heading in the same direction, when suddenly the bus came into contact with the cyclist and she was pitched from the road. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Attorney-at law, Gordon Gilhuys who represented Persaud told the court that “ever since May my client was placed on $100,000 bail and used to make his scheduled reports to the station but was recently told on Monday that he had to come to court today. Advice was given by the DPP for this matter and the circumstances in it as well.”
The lawyer then made an application for his client to be granted his pre-trial liberty and informed the court that the defendant is a married man with three young children and also the sole breadwinner of his household.

The magistrate then informed the defence counsel that the court had no knowledge of advice from the DPP. However, Persaud was granted $200,000 bail and he will make his next court appearance on September 5.