Tobago covid19 limers appear in court

TWENTY people, including four teenagers below the age of 18, appeared before a Scarborough magistrate, via a virtual hearing on Tuesday, charged with gathering in public in contravention of covid19 public health regulations.

The 16 adults and four minors were arrested on Monday after being caught cooking, bathing, and liming at No Man’s Land. According to the Public Health Ordinance, public gatherings of over five people are prohibited and all beaches and rivers remain closed due to the covid19 pandemic.

After all 20 pleaded guilty, 12 of them were each placed on a $6,000 bond and ordered to keep the peace for two years, failing which, they would be brought back to court for sentencing. Punishment for this crime includes jail time and fines to a maximum of $50,000. The other eight, including the four children and their parents were reprimanded and discharged.

The court heard that officers from the Crown Point station received information of the illegal gathering and with the assistance of officers of the Shirvan Road and Scarborough police stations along with the Emergency Response Patrol, went to No Man’s Land and caught the group busy grilling fish, cooking meat, bathing and liming in a makeshift galvanize shed. Officers said there were also coolers filled with drinks. Acting Cpl Thomas of the Crown Point Police Station laid the charges.