A 36-year-old gold miner from Georgetown has been remanded to prison after a court refused bail on charges of possessing an unlicensed firearm and five rounds of ammunition allegedly discovered during a police operation on the West Coast Berbice.

Wayne Barker, of Lot 58 Lane Avenue, appeared before Magistrate Shareefah Parks at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where the charges were read to him. He pleaded not guilty to both.

The charges stem from a police operation at about 22:50 hrs on Wednesday, October 14, in front of the Fort Wellington Police Station, where ranks stopped a white Toyota Axio bearing registration number HD 6296.

Police said a search of the vehicle and its driver revealed nothing illegal. However, Barker, who was travelling as a passenger, was allegedly found with a Zoraki .380 pistol and five matching rounds of ammunition concealed in his trousers.

When asked whether he had a valid firearm licence, Barker allegedly indicated that he did not, resulting in his arrest and subsequent charges.
The circumstances surrounding the discovery became a point of contention during Friday’s court proceedings.

Defence attorney Bernard DaSilva told the court that Barker was travelling in a hired vehicle from Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, towards Georgetown with two other people when police stopped the car.

According to DaSilva, one passenger exited the vehicle at Bath Settlement after receiving a telephone call, while Barker remained seated in the back.

The attorney disputed the prosecution’s account, maintaining that the firearm was found beneath a mat in the rear of the vehicle rather than on Barker’s person. He also argued that there had been no admission of ownership and that investigators had not taken fingerprints from the weapon.

When asked whether he had a valid firearm licence, Barker allegedly indicated that he did not, resulting in his arrest and subsequent charges.
The circumstances surrounding the discovery became a point of contention during Friday’s court proceedings.

Defence attorney Bernard DaSilva told the court that Barker was travelling in a hired vehicle from Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, towards Georgetown with two other people when police stopped the car.

According to DaSilva, one passenger exited the vehicle at Bath Settlement after receiving a telephone call, while Barker remained seated in the back.

The attorney disputed the prosecution’s account, maintaining that the firearm was found beneath a mat in the rear of the vehicle rather than on Barker’s person. He also argued that there had been no admission of ownership and that investigators had not taken fingerprints from the weapon.