$35,000 fines for gun possession

First to appear before Magistrate Margaret Alert was Xavier Lewis, 20, of La Romaine, who pleaded guilty to having a gun and three rounds of ammunition.

The magistrate heard that Lewis and another man were at Chapman Recreation ground along Dumfries Road, La Romaine, at about 9.30 pm on Thursday last, when he was arrested.

Attorney Chantal Paul mitigated on Lewis’ behalf and told the magistrate that his mother died when he was ten.

Recently, Lewis was shot at, so he secured a firearm to protect himself.

Magistrate Alert opined that perhaps it was fortunate Lewis was arrested before he had a chance to commit a more serious offence.

She fined Lewis $10,000 for possession of the gun and $5,000 for the ammunition. He must pay both fines within 90 days or serve 18 months in jail. Praveen Ramroop of Avocat Village, Fyzabad was next to appear before Magistrate Alert for having a Beretta pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition while in a car at South Park, Tarouba at about 3 am on Sunday. Attorney Subhas Panday who represented Ramroop, said his client is a bar owner who was robbed on two occasions.

lert fined Ramroop $10,000 for the gun and $10,000 for the ammunition, which he must pay within 90 days or serve 18 months in jail. “Apply for a firearm,” the magistrate told Ramroop, “lest we degenerate deeper than the wild wild west.”