San Fernando Magistrate Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds yesterday urged two cocaine users to stop blaming other people for their actions, admit they have a problem and get help.Ramsumair-Hinds offered the advice to Adesh Hajarie after sentencing him to two months hard labour and Roger Bissoon, who was fined $600.Both men pleaded guilty.
In Hajarie's case, prosecutor Sgt Gordon Maharaj said the police found a device used for smoking cocaine in his pocket in Marabella on Tuesday.Maharaj produced the device–a miniature alcohol bottle with a wire mesh on top and a hole on the bottom–in the Fifth Court.Hajarie admitted he had three previous convictions and came out of prison in 2010 after serving time for cocaine possession.He initially claimed he no longer smoked cocaine but then admitted to smoking "when the boss come down on me."
Begging not to be sent back to jail, Hajarie claimed the device was not his and that he had begged the police to help him."It is not the police's responsibility to help you. You have to take responsibility for your actions... the police already have a difficult time battling the demand and supply in relation to drugs," the magistrate told himBissoon, 37, was found with 0.75 grammes of cocaine at Leotaud Street on Tuesday.
The heavy duty machinery operator and father of three claimed he was not a frequent user and only used cocaine as a work stress reliever."Let us not fool ourselves, cocaine is highly addictive. Be honest with yourself and family and get some help. Don't pretend there isn't a problem," the magistrate told him. If Bissoon fails to pay the fine in two weeks he will be arrested and sent to prison for three months.
