BEFORE sentencing Roopnarine “Helicopter” Persaud and Deonarine “Pascal” Lakhan, who admitted stabbing their drinking buddy to death in 2017, Justice Sandil Kissoon underscored the dangers of alcohol abuse and called for a review of the Liquor Licensing Act.

The judge on Monday sentenced Lakhan to 10 years in prison for his role in the killing of 38-year-old Kawal Shivnauth of Wine Bush, Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD). However, his co-accused was sentenced to 12 years and 10 months as the judge took aggravating factors into consideration.

In July, the duo was indicted at the Demerara High Court for murder, but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The men admitted that on January 9, 2017, at Anna Catherina, WCD, they unlawfully killed Shivnauth.

The state was represented by prosecutors Muntaz Ali and Abigail Gibbs. Persaud was represented by attorney-at-law Dexter Smartt, while Lakhan was represented by attorney-at-law Teriq Mohammed.

In his sentencing remarks, Justice Kissoon said that alcohol addiction and abuse are showing up in more and more killings through domestic violence, dangerous driving and disorderly behaviour.

“The consumption and abuse of alcohol continue to wreak havoc, chaos and destruction in communities across Guyana. The landscape of every village, every farming community, and every mining area is littered with the presence of rum shops…Frequently, most of the criminal cases occur in or around the rum shops due to excessive drinking of alcohol within the premises of those businesses,” he said.

He added that the law provides for a review of the licence of the business when such breaches occur.

“Licences for the operation of rum shops and liquor stores are too easily and frequently granted. There is a multiplicity of rum shops in areas where they ought not to be across this country, having regard to its influence on young people, families and children who reside in the vicinity,” he said.

He pointed out that the social impact of alcohol abuse manifests itself in everyday life and is a “catalyst” for incidents of domestic violence, spousal abuse, broken homes, road carnage and suicides.

“There is a clear laxity in the issue and monitoring of liquor licences and these establishments, without a consideration of the environment and consequences of its operation… The time is ripe for a review of the law on the subject,” he pointed out.

In the present case, Shivnauth, a sugar estate worker, was killed a few days after he reportedly approached his stepson, Lakhan, warning him about harassing his young daughter.

It is alleged that on January 09, 2017, Persaud, Lakhan and Shivnauth were consuming alcohol at a shop at Anna Catherina. Following that, Persaud advanced towards Shivnauth with a knife and chopped him, the court heard.

Shivnauth armed himself with a broken bottle, but the weapon was taken away by his stepson. The stepson, Lakhan, held onto Shivnauth while Persaud stabbed him several times about the body.

Residents raised an alarm when the altercation occurred and the police were alerted. Shivnauth was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital and the duo was later arrested.