Market vendor attacks Covid-19 Cash Grant team with knife
CHARGED: Vanessa Gonsalves
A woman appeared in Georgetown Magistrates Court on Monday charged with assaulting a Peace Officer, damage to property and abusive language.
40 Year Old Vanessa Gonsalves, a market vendor of Lot 49 Russell Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, was placed on $5,000 when she appeared before Senior Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs.
According to what this publication was told, Gonsalves on Friday was at home when the Covid-19 Cash Grant team headed by coordinator Alicia James, arrived in the general Charlestown area to distribute the grant to homeowners.
Vanessa Gonsalves was approached to be issued with her grant and advised that she needs to provide her Identification Card and a bill or mail that comes to the house in her name since she had claimed to be the owner of the home.
Gonsalves was unable to produce a bill in her name and was advised that she would be qualified for the second phases of the cash grant, she became upset and began using obscene language and went into her home and later emerged with a knife in her hand as she charged towards the coordinator, Alicia Adams.
Adams was shield by a police who was present with the team to provide security and in the process, the uniform of the officer was damaged, the woman reportedly continued charging towards the coordinator and it was only after a round was fired into the air that she ceased her advancement.
It was reported that Adams who is said to be a supporter of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic was among a group of supporters from that party who were campaigning through Laing Avenue in the lead up to the 2020 Elections when they were prevented by APNU+AFC supporters from proceeding through the community. Vanessa Gonsalves was reportedly among the group of persons who prevent the PPP supporters from passing through Laing Avenue.
Vanessa pleaded not guilty to the charges which were read to her and was placed on the $5,000 bail for assaulting the peace officer and released on self-bail for the other charges. The matter is set for March 20 where a trial will commence.
