Shop owner dies before having his day in court after COVID breach

Hamenauth Sarendranauth has passed away.

He was only 48 years old and came from Tudor Street in The City, St Michael.

The owner of Caribbean Heat made news headlines in Barbados when he was remanded to Her Majesty's Prison - Dodds pending sentencing after pleading guilty to breaching COVID-19 protocols around February 14, 2021.

He went before the Chief Magistrate at District A Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody until March 16. He was not known to the court.

The charges read that he did contravene paragraph 3 subparagraph 1 clause v. of the Emergency Management (COVID-19) Curfew 3 Directive, 2021, being the owner of a non-essential service, not permitted to open in this directive namely Caribbean Heat did fail to remain close between February 3 to February 17, 2021.

Represented by Attorney-at-law Michael Lashley Q.C., the shop owner had argued for and made bail. Lashley did not represent Sarendranauth from his first appearance*. He was later retained to apply for bail at High Court, and High Court granted the bail.

However, Sarendranauth was hospitalised, according to Lashley, three days after being remanded, and he died yesterday, March 23.

Contrary to some rumours, the 48-year-old did not die at the prison. This was confirmed by a credible senior source at HMP Dodds, who said that Sarendranauth, who was in prison, was on bail following his hospitalization and did not pass away while in their care.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article did not specify that Attorney Michael Lashley QC was not representing the accused from first appearance. Also, Sarendranauth's bail was granted in the High Court, not the Magistrate's Court.