Contempt order dismissed against Amerindian leader

Feb 18, 2013 News

The High Court has dismissed contempt charges against Tashao Mario Hastings from Kako Village, which were filed by woman miner Belina Charles last year. The woman moved to the court last year and got an interim injunction against Kako.
In her affidavit of claim she had stated that she was not being allowed to pass through the village to set up deep water dredge. The woman claimed that Hastings was a hamper in her conducting business. Several weeks after the injunction was filed, Charles again went to the court and secured an order of contempt against the Tashao. That contempt order was granted on October 25, 2012.
Hastings in reply to the contempt proceedings argued through his lawyer Nigel Hughes, that it was filed bad in law. Justice Nareshwar Harnanan upheld the decision and dismissed the matter. Charles had appeared at Kako and had a meeting with the Tashao, informing him that she was granted a prospecting license which was located beyond the lands of the village. Charles’s intention was to pass through the village using the Kako River.
However the Tashao later held a meeting with his villagers who objected to the woman passing through to carry out her operations for reasons that they hunt, fish, farm and have a homestead in the area among other things. Villagers were also concerned about the possible contamination of the Kako River upstream which has managed to remain “clear”.