A Princes Town father of 12 caught selling Carib and Stag beers illegally from a cooler by the roadside was slapped with a $1,500 fine yesterday. Garfield Charles, 63, of Moruga, appeared before Magistrate Debra Quintyne in the Princes Town First Court, charged with the April 18 offence. Charles pleaded guilty to selling 15 Carib and 18 Stag without a liquor licence, as stipulated by the Liquor Licence Act. Yesterday, attorney Spencer Harrison, who appeared for Charles, said the farmer did not waste the court's time by pleading not guilty. The attorney said there was no excuse for breaking the law, even in difficult economic times. However, he asked for Charles to be placed on a bond.
Magistrate Quintyne ordered Charles to pay $1,500 in 30 days or serve four months' hard labour. Court prosecutor Sgt Bedassie told the court around 12.30 pm last Wednesday, officers were on mobile-patrol duty along La Ruffin Road, Moruga, when they saw Charles standing under a house next to a blue-and-white cooler. They said they watched for some time and saw several people approach Charles and hand him money. He was seen opening the cooler and handing out Carib and Stag beers. The officers approached and informed Charles he was selling intoxicating liquor without a licence, which he admitted he did not have. He told them, "Boss, ah go never stop selling beers, because I have to make back my money." Charles was arrested and taken to the Princes Town police station, where he was formally charged. Officers found 15 Carib and 18 Stag beers in the cooler. Harrison said Charles had two previous convictions. Charles denied telling the police he would not stop selling beer.