By Sue-Ann Wayow
A 48-YEAR-OLD pastor, who led his followers to Harris Promenade, San Fernando last Sunday, is expected to appear virtually before a San Fernando Magistrate on Wednesday charged with breaching the Public Health Regulations.
Police reported on Wednesday that Lincoln Doughty, of Iere Village, Princes Town, was arrested on Tuesday night and later charged by Sgt Stoude, of the San Fernando Police Station.
Doughty was held during an operation led by Senior Superintendent Southern Division Lucia Winchester, which included officers attached to the South Division Task Force (SDTF) and Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Last Sunday, at 7am, officers attached the San Fernando Police Station, observed a group who began converging on Harris Promenade, San Fernando, in what appeared to be corporate prayer.
They were immediately advised of the current State of Emergency and the Public Health Regulations which prohibit the number of persons gathering in public to be in excess of five persons.
During the confrontation, certain members of the group openly insulted police officers. The group was subsequently dispersed pending further investigations.
President of the Christian Youth Foundation CYF Jonathan Bhagan had issued a press statement on Tuesday following the clash of believers and police.
He said, “We witnessed a group contradict the teachings of our Christian faith. Christians ought to be their brother’s keeper and to obey the laws of the land, such obedience is not blind but is based on wisdom under God’s direction and guidance. The CYF is mindful that whilst we pray for our nation, we are also called to be light of the world, that all men would see the love of Christ within us. As such, we would ask all groups to exercise wisdom.”
The group was reportedly seen flouting Covid-19 regulations during and wishing that the police officers contract the deadly coronavirus.
Bhagan thanked the officers who he said exercised great patience and professionalism in the conduct of their duties in spite of the behaviour and the comments made by the group.
The CYF president added, “We wish to acknowledge and uplift those officers in our prayers by thanking them for putting their lives on the line daily to protect and serve our nation in these uncertain times and take this opportunity to recognise their hard work and diligence. May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep you all.
“We also acknowledge the tremendous work being done by all our health care professionals who are on the frontline of this deadly fight and continue to lift them in prayer as their workload has greatly increased and become more stressful.”
And he added that the CYF stands with all Christians to support the designated National Day of Prayer on Sunday.
