$200 fine for cursing Mayor

A FISHERMAN was yesterday fined $200 by a San Fernando Magistrate before whom he appeared, charged with cursing San Fernando Mayor Ian Atherly on the weekend.

Asked to explain the reason for his bad behaviour, David Jones, 41, admitted to Fourth Court Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan that he had consumed too much alcohol, which caused him to “cuss” Mayor Atherly. Magistrate scolded Jones and imposed the fine. He had up to today to pay the fine or in default, serve 31 days imprisonment with hard labour. Prosecutor Cpl Kassim Ali told the court, around 11.25 am on Saturday, Mayor Atherly was visiting the San Fernando Central Market. As he was approaching the Fish Section, Jones looked in Atherly’s direction and started to shout obscenities at Mayor Atherly.

An annoyed Mayor Atherly reported the matter to the  San Fernando police and a party of officers including  Ag Sgt Bovell, Cpl Charles and PC Rangoo quickly went to the market accompanied by the Mayor, who pointed out Jones to the officers. Jones was arrested and taken to the San Fernando police station where he was charged. In imposing the fine against the father of two, Magistrate Rambachan chastised Jones for his rude behaviour towards the Mayor, saying, “your behaviour Mr Jones, was quite atrocious.”