Irish volunteer charged for threatening President Ramotar

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A 17-year-old Irish man who is in Guyana on a teaching project, was on Monday charged for allegedly threatening to shoot President Donald Ramotar in the head during an event at a night club in Lethem over the weekend. Cillian James Crossan is accused of threatening to shoot the Guyanese leader on March 29 at ‘City Boy Club’, Tabatinga, Lethem.
He appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday. According to the police, on March 29 at Central Rupununi, Crossan said he would shoot the president who was not present at the time, but Amerindian Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Nigel Dharamlall overheard the comment and approached the young man, asking him what he said and he repeated that he would shoot the president in his head. The matter was then reported.
The defendant’s attorney Glen Hanoman stated that Crossan has been in Guyana since August and he is a volunteer with Project Trust.
On the day in question, the defendant was intoxicated and was in police custody for over 100 hours since the arrest was made. He made an application for reasonable bail.
Prosecutor Vishnu Hunte objected to bail, stating that the threat was aimed at the president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and that the defendant is also a flight risk. Crossan gave a caution statement admitting to what he said. The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of Gy$ 60,000 and he is to report to the Lethem Police Station. The matter is adjourned until May 30. Representatives of the European High Commission and the Irish Consulate were present in court.
Back in August 2011, an 18-year-old boy was remanded to prison for allegedly showing his middle finger to the convoy of the then President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Kevin Simon of South Ruimveldt allegedly made the gesture while travelling on the main East Coast Highway on August 8, 2011.
He was initially charged with breaching the peace under one section of the law and appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman the following day and pleaded not guilty. He was remanded to prison for one week but on his return to court on August 16, 2011, he was sent back to the Camp Street Prison for another week.

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