Woman pleads not guilty to ‘roadblock’ charges; trial on Aug. 11

The Mt. Grennan/Georgetown woman charged in connection with the alleged use of a motor vehicle as a roadblock during protest in Kingstown last week Tuesday has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Koreen Ballantyne appeared before chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court, in Kingstown, on Wednesday.

Ballantyne is charged that on July 6, 2021, at Hillsboro Street, Kingstown:

• being the driver of motor vehicle PD962, she did play a musical instrument in the said vehicle in a public place without the written consent of the Commissioner of Police,
• being the driver of motor vehicle PD962 did willfully allow the said vehicle to stand on such a road so as to cause unnecessary obstruction to the free flow of traffic,
• being the driver of motor vehicle PD962 did drive the said vehicle without being the holder of a driving permit
• being the driver of motor vehicle PD962, did use the said vehicle without there being in force a policy of insurance in respect of third party risk in respect of the said vehicle;
• being the driver of motor vehicle PD962, she did fail to remove the said vehicle when requested to do so by a police officer in uniform when it was placed in such a position so as to cause obstruction to the free flow of traffic,
• being the driver of motor vehicle PD962, she did stop the said vehicle on a road so as to cause an inconvenience to the public in exercise of common rights,

The matters were adjourned to Aug. 11, for trial.