President’s pardon programme being questioned
The initiative of pardoning persons who are incarcerated for petty crimes and those who have a few days remaining
Curt Batson
in jail is being questioned.
Questions continue to be asked about the purpose of the programme initiated by President David Granger.
The purpose of the pardon, how are persons selected to be pardon, who selects the persons, the purpose of pardoning those persons and whether there are programmes for those persons pardoned. These are only a few of the many questions being asked.
On Monday Kelvin Bates, 19, of Rose Hall Town was nabbed in the backlands of Topo, Corentyne, Berbice hours after he and Curt Batson had robbedtwo money changers at Rose Hall Town.
It was subsequently revealed that Bates was in January 2015 sentenced to four years in jail by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s Court on a charge of Robbery with Violence. He was accused of robbing Nalani Jagandan, of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.
According to Prosecutor, Sergeant Althea Solomon on January 28, the woman was in the Nigg Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice Public Road conducting business. She was subsequently attacked by Bates who was armed with a knife and relieved of her belongings.
The matter was reported and Bates was arrested the same day. He was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in jail.
It was confirmed that the criminal was among the persons pardoned by President Granger.
Since his being pardoned the man has been involved in numerous misdemeanors.
Among other questions being asked are how could such a blunder slip by the system? Who are the President’s Advisors? Is any due diligence done on the persons being pardoned?
