AG: Don't play smart, wear your mask

ATTORNEY General Faris Al-Rawi on Wednesday appealed to the public to "avoid the smartmanism and smartwomanism, just wear your mask."

Al-Rawi made this appeal as he responded to a question during the virtual health news conference about how someone could justify being unable to wear a mask for mental of physical reasons.

He also said there would no reversal of the requirement of people travelling in the same vehicle, whether or not they are members of the same family, to be wearing masks.

Al-Rawi explained, "In the Commonwealth, there is that clause, 'reasonable excuse.' There is that clause of underlying medical/physical/mental condition or extreme or severe distress."

He reminded the population, "In some jurisdictions, they have great laws and long bamboo sticks and some very robust ways of enforcing the law."

The authorities will not going that route in TT, he said, "as much as some people encourage it to be done."

Al-Rawi said Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith "through his people already speaking on the issue, indicated that whilst people are getting accustomed to this law, if you have your medicals on you, please be encouraged to demonstrate that position by way of the proof that you have."

He added that apart from satisfying a police officer of the reasons for not wearing a mask in public, individuals would ultimately have to satisfy a court of law "if you really want to press the issue that you fall into the exceptional circumstances (as to why you cannot wear a mask)."

He cited those circumstances as: "I was eating. I was drinking. I was in the car alone. I have an underlying medical condition which causes me to be in this situation."

Al-Rawi observed, "A lot of people who have underlying medical conditions are themselves at risk of covid in general. So I think there would be a need for double caution on that person's point."

Underscoring the point that everyone travelling together in a vehicle must wear masks, whether or not they are related, Al-Rawi reminded, "We have a thriving PH (taxi) industry which extremely difficult to manage."

He said the tough economic times TT is facing has resulted in some people earning a living by "PH management." After saying a "Not a PH car" sticker on a vehicle's windscreen does not mean its occupants can go unmasked, Al-Rawi said there is one option if people want a rule that members of the same family in a vehicle can be unmasked: "Call out all the roadblock facilities in TT, sit in the long lines of traffic, grinding heat situation and have the police ask everybody (if) they are members of the same household."

Al-Rawi also said it is a fact that in TT, many people who do not have the same surnames are members of the same household.

"We have to exercise common sense and reasonableness. Let's all just allow the country to get back to work by wearing your mask."