Those who defy the country’s orders against the spread of COVID-19 disease will face sanctions, including having their licenses revoked, and while sending persons to prison is not being considered at this time, the Police will have to find “creative” ways of dealing with offenders.
This is according to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who heads the National COVID-19 Task Force.
Speaking about the Police enforcement of the curfew, he said prison sentences are not being encouraged because the authorities would not like persons with the disease infecting the prison population.
In making his point for the Police to be “creative” in enforcing the curfew, he referred to social media videos of Police in India beating persons on the road and having ladies hold their ears and stoop up and down.
Under the curfew, no one is allowed out their house after dark, unless they are an essential worker, such as a healthcare worker, a Policeman or a member of the media.
Banks, markets, supermarkets, fruits and vegetable stalls and neighbourhood shops can be only open from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Food services and restaurants will also be allowed open during this time but only for drive-through take away and delivery service.
Taxis and minibuses are also not allowed to work from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Buses are only allowed to take half the number of passengers they are licensed to take, but those who defy the order and continue to “pack their buses like sardine” are putting themselves and others at risk, Nagamootoo stated.
He said passengers must also insist that minibus operators follow the orders. He said that while they may want to go home and pack into the buses, they have to consider whether they will pass on the disease to others if they have it, or if they will be infected by someone else on the bus and take the disease home to their loved ones.
As such, Nagamootoo called on the Police to be strict in enforcing the orders to prevent the spread of the disease.
