A 29-year-old Georgetown vendor was released on $20,000 bail on Friday after denying two charges linked to the alleged assault of a visiting content creator near the La Penitence Market earlier this month.
Kwesi McKay, of Fourth Street, Kingston, Georgetown, who operates as a vendor at the corner of Water and Cowan Streets, appeared before Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he pleaded not guilty to using assaultive language likely to cause a breach of the peace and unlawfully assaulting Anthony D’Oliveira on January 5 at Saffon Street, La Penitence.
The prosecution objected to bail on the basis of public safety, telling the court that D’Oliveira is a visitor to Guyana and works as a YouTuber and travel vlogger.
The state alleged that D’Oliveira was filming at the market entrance when he was slapped on the back of his head and verbally abused. Prosecutors indicated that their case is supported by video footage and a recorded interview.
When given the opportunity to respond, McKay told the court that he had objected to being filmed and had asked the vlogger on more than one occasion to stop pointing the camera in his direction. He said the encounter escalated after his objections were ignored.
In addressing the matter, Magistrate McGusty stated that while assault cannot be justified, filming individuals without their consent can be deeply offensive in certain cultures. She stressed, however, that two wrongs do not make a right and that the vlogger’s status as a visitor did not warrant either special treatment or physical harm.
McKay was granted $10,000 bail on each charge, totaling $20,000, and was placed on a bond to keep the peace. In granting bail, the magistrate noted that the parties do not reside near each other and are ordinarily based in different countries. The matter was adjourned to January 20.
The court appearance comes days after the Guyana Police Force issued a public appeal seeking assistance to identify the man seen in a viral video involving the visiting vlogger near the La Penitence Market.
Investigators later confirmed that the suspect was located and charged, culminating in Friday’s court proceedings.
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