CoP: We are ready to enforce the law during Easter holidays

POLICE COMMISSIONER Gary Griffith said the Prime Minister call on Saturday for officers to be more forceful in enforcing the law relating to public health regulations for the Easter holidays is in keeping with his mandate.

In a WhatsApp response to Sunday Newsday Griffith re-issued a media release dated March 25 where he called on the adherence of the health regulations for Easter and Shouter Baptist holidays.

He added the phrase “on track with my objective” to his media release where he called on members of the religious groups to choose a form of celebration that did not encourage public gathering given the increase in covid19 cases. Last week the country saw an increase of 115 cases.

Speaking during his covid19 media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, Dr Rowley said as head of the National Security council, he will be calling on the police to, "with greater enthusiasm" address those bent on disregarding the fundamental responsibility to wear a mask and not congregate.

“We expect increased police activity in enforcing the requisite laws. If you find yourself in a group of more than 10, just know that you are in an arrestable situation. If you are outside of a bar and all of you bought a beer, you need to be counting because if you are in more than ten you are in a situation where you can be arrested. That is the law.”

Rowley said there are those breaching the law and serving alcohol in restaurants related to a spike in positive cases.

“If you find yourself serving alcohol in Styrofoam cups or serving it as water, I am sure there is no group of people that can detect alcohol more than the police. If you are doing that I will read the papers and see the police shut down your business. The bottom line is we have to enforce the law that was put in place to protect the population.”

Two weeks ago police raided a restaurant believed to have been serving alcohol, a violation of the public health regulations.

Also addressing the issue was National Security Minister Stuart Young under the current laws, public health officials can enter private property if they feel that the activities jeopardise the public health and have it shut down with the assistance of the police.

Both Young and Rowley addressed the issue of payment for fines for those who breach the mask wearing in public spaces. Rowley said he recently signed off on “something” regarding the payment of fines, which for the past six months have not been collected. Young explained that the issue was there was a service charge added to the payment of the fines using credit cards and this was not included in the law which needed to be amended.

To date the State has failed to collect on 7,140 tickets. First offenders are fined $1,000, $2,000 on the second offence and $5,000 any time thereafter.

Young added that the Judiciary has "slowed down the payment of fines" to facilitate the non-payment due to the legal issue. He added that it is being addressed "through legislative process" adding he hopes it will be addressed “very shortly.”

In a media release the Judiciary extended its pandemic emergency period so that the payments of all fines have been suspended until April 23.

The waiver of fees, filing by electronic means, is for the period April 2, 2020, and April 23, 2021. Any public health fixed penalty notices issued on or before April 23, 2021, may be paid from April 24 to July 4, 2021.

The hearings for public health fixed penalty notices issued on or before April 23, 2021 in situations in which the fines are not paid, were adjourned to later dates.

Nothing was mentioned about in-person hearings but there are references to the previous practice direction dated November 30, 2020, that it would “continue to have effect on March 27, 2021 and continue until further notice or otherwise superseded.” Therefore, it seems that court hearings will remain virtual.