Guyanese commit egregious crimes in Barbados

Drugs-in-logs Guyanese sentenced to 428 years

Posted By Stabroek staff On December 12, 2009 @ 5:30 am In Local News | 56 Comments

Six Guyanese, convicted in the biggest drug bust in Barbados’ history, were yesterday collectively sentenced to a historic 428 years in prison for the 28 drug offences for which they were found guilty earlier this year.

[1]
Lemme Michael Campbell

Their sentences will run concurrently and two men from the group, deemed to be ‘the brains behind the operation,’ will spend 30 and 25 years, respectively, at HMP Dodds while their four compatriots will each serve 15 years.

Justice Kaye Goodridge, in handing down her sentence in the No. 5

[2]
Rohan Shastri Rambarran

Supreme Court yesterday morning, said that illegal narcotics wreaked such havoc that could lead to the erosion of the social fabric as well as the creation of a myriad of social problems.

Anyone caught will feel the full weight of the law, she warned.

Lemme Michael Campbell, 45, his wife Somwattie Persaud, 40, both of 106 New Garden Street, Queenstown, Georgetown; Christopher Bacchus, 43, and his wife Dianne Bacchus, 37, both of Bay Gardens, Bayland, St Michael; Wayne Gavin Green, 38, of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown and Bridgefield, St Thomas; and Rohan Shastri Rambarran, a 43-year-old businessman of Georgetown, Guyana, were convicted of six counts relating to a police seizure of hundreds of kilos of both cannabis and cocaine at a house in Bay Gardens, St Michael on June 4, 2009.

[3]
Somwattie Persaud

All six had denied possession and trafficking in 91.3 kilos of cannabis and 119.4 kilos of cocaine on November 30, 2005, while Campbell and Rambarran had denied importing both cannabis and cocaine on November 29, 2005.

The sentences, all of which started from yesterday, are as follows:

•Campbell, whom Justice Goodridge said played a “major role” in the incident was sentenced to 115 years in prison – 15 years for importing, 15 years for possession and 20 years for trafficking in cannabis; 20 years for importing, 20 years for possession, and 25 years for trafficking in cocaine.

•Persaud, whom the judge said played a “subordinate role” in the

[4]
Christopher Bacchus

incident and who was told that “immediate release was not an option” was sentenced to 47 years in prison – ten years for possession of cannabis, 12 years for trafficking of cannabis; ten years for possession and trafficking in cocaine 15 years.

•Christopher Bacchus was sentenced to 47 years in prison – ten years for possession of cannabis; ten years for possession of cocaine; 12 and 15 years for trafficking in cannabis and cocaine respectively.

•Diane Bacchus was sentenced to 47 years in prison – ten years for possession of cannabis; ten years for possession of cocaine; 12 and 15 years for trafficking of cannabis and cocaine respectively.

•Green was sentenced to 47 years in prison – ten years for possession of cannabis; ten years for possession of cocaine; 12 and 15 years for trafficking of cannabis and cocaine respectively.

•Rambarran was sentenced to 125 years in prison – 15 years for the importation, 15 years for possession and 25 years for trafficking cannabis; 20 years for importation, 20 years for possession and 30 years for trafficking of cocaine.

[5]
Dianne Bacchus

The judge told Rambarran he was the “mastermind behind getting the illegal drugs” and making sure they were shipped to Barbados and noted the high level of sophistication involved. She also told him that he would have profited greatly from the deal and that he was motivated by greed and therefore the custodial sentences were justified.

Because the sentences will run concurrently, Campbell will serve 25 years, Persaud 15 years, Christopher and Diane Bacchus 15 years each, Green 15 years and Rambarran 30 years in prison.

The sentencing brought to a close the longest trial in recent history in a case that started on February 23.

There was also a marathon four-day summation and more than 5,000 pages of evidence, submissions, arguments and defences which were taken during the trial.

Lawmen, who testified, said they got a tip and started surveillance at a construction site in Rowans Park, St George, where they saw a container of logs being off-loaded.

They then secretly followed a truck, after some of the logs were loaded onto it, to a house at Bay Gardens, St Michael.

When they raided that house, they said, they caught Campbell, Green, and Christopher Bacchus

[6]
Gavin Green

unpacking parcels from hollowed-out logs and the women packing those parcels into suitcases.

Drugs were also on the kitchen table and by the backdoor.

They then picked up Rambarran from Hilton, Barbados after Campbell called his name as the ring leader.

In their defences, Rambarran, Green, Campbell and Persaud denied any knowledge of the drugs, but Christopher and Dianne Bacchus said they were used and set up by Campbell, and tied him, Rambarran and Green to the drugs at their house.

Director of Public Prosecutions Charles Leacock, QC, led the prosecution’s team of Principal Crown Counsel Anthony Blackman and Principal Crown Counsel Wanda Blair.

Sir Richard Cheltenham, QC, and Shelly-Ann Seecharan appeared for Rambarran; Vonda Pile represented Christopher and Dianne Bacchus; Vincent Watson and Desmond Sands appeared for Green; while Ralph Thorne, QC, and Arthur Holder represented Campbell and Persaud. (Barbados Nation)