–matter set for trial on April 20
ARSHENA Bentel of Montrose, East Coast Demerara appeared before Sparendaam Magistrate Alex Moore on Friday, March 23, charged with making loud and continuous noise by playing loud music on Monday, March 19, at Montrose, thereby causing annoyance to Phulmattie Persaud. Represented by Attorney-at-Law Gwendolyn Bristol, Bentel pleaded not guilty to the charge, and her counsel revealed that Bentel and Persaud were owners of bars, who live next to each other but have not been on speaking terms for approximately 15 years.
The court was made to understand that Persaud is the aunt of Bentel’s husband, and that the problem seemed to have arisen ever since Bentel’s husband opened his bar 15 years ago.
It was also claimed that Bentel’s bar had always attracted many more customers than that of Persaud’s.
Counsel Bristol further claimed that no other neighbour had any objection to the way Bentel played music in her bar, and she had never been reported to the police.
She also revealed that the police had spoken to other neighbours, who claimed that Bentel’s music did not disturb them.
Persaud was classified as hypersensitive, since it seemed that she was the only one affected by Bentel’s music, but Persaud iterated that she held no grudge against her niece-in-law for having a better bar than hers, she just wanted Bentel to play her music in a moderate way.
When Magistrate Moore invited the women to settle the matter, they each refused.
Bentel was sent away on her own recognizance, and the matter was put down for trial on April 20.
Prosecuting the matter was Police Sergeant Bernard Browne.