[UPDATED] Jacob warns bar owners: Don't put livelihoods before lives

McDonald Jacob -
McDonald Jacob -

RYAN HAMILTON-DAVIS and SHANE SUPERVILLE

Acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob is urging bar owners and other safe-zone operators not to put their business interests before the well-being of their patrons, encouraging them to obey the public health regulations to avoid police intervention.

Responding to questions about an incident in which over 100 guests at an event aboard the Ocean Pelican party boat were temporarily detained for breaching the regulations, Jacob said the safety and health of customers must take priority over profits.

The event, in Chaguaramas, which was organised by businessman Adrian Scoon, was halted by Western Division police and the coast guard.

The use of party boats and pleasure craft is prohibited under the public health regulations.

Police took the names and information of the guests and were working closely with the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) up to Tuesday afternoon to decide whether or not charges would be laid.

Jacob reminded businesses that bar and restaurant licences could not be used in place of dancehall licences and vice versa, adding that the regulations clearly dealt with any instances where businesses tried to "cut corners."

"Using a bar licence as a dancehall licence would mean a lot in (terms of) the violation of the covid19 regulations, and even though you set up a restaurant and bar for people to be in there sitting and dining, it will need to be a safe zone, and in order to be a safe zone, there must be certain considerations.

"I'm not seeing any blind spot (in the regulations), I'm seeing a spot that people in a pandemic are trying all different ways and means and they are putting finances above life."

Jacob added that in instances where a business owner may change the status of his establishment from a bar to a dancehall, he should inform the nearest police station of the change.

"If the police are not informed, the police will do what they are required to do."

Contacted for comment, president of the Bar Owners Association of TT (BOATT) Sateesh Moonasar said bar owners and other safe-zone operators are eager to see whether any charges will be laid against guests and promoters of the event on Scoon's Ocean Pelican boat on Boxing Day.

Moonasar said he did not understand why it was taking so long for charges to be laid, as he believes the event was a clear violation of the health regulations.

He also warned that the outcome of this enquiry was an important one, as it could set a precedent.

"Whatever is happening on a party boat is totally in violation of the health ordinance, so I do not see why it has to go to the DPP for the police to know what to do. It is clearly stated in the health ordinance, and we are closely watching the outcome of it, because if that can be allowed on a party boat without any charges laid, then there is no stopping safe-zone establishments from doing the same thing.

"Every single thing on that party boat is totally illegal, and we are watching the situation carefully to see what the authority does, and based on the outcome of this, will determine what safe-zone operators will be doing in the future."

Moonasar said he continued to encourage his members and other safe-zone operators to act responsibly and enforce the regulations at their establishments to avoid police involvement.

A media release from the Office of the Attorney General on Tuesday denied news reports that Scoon had sought advice from Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi on legal "loopholes" in the regulations.

The release added that while Scoon did contact Al-Rawi, the latter simply advised him to follow the law on party boats.

Contacted for comment, Al-Rawi said he had not been asked to make any updates to the public health regulations to prevent safe-zone operators from converting their establishments to dancehalls or nightclubs, and they were constantly seeking advice from health officials.

He added that given the number of covid19-related deaths reported over the past few weeks, it was important that people and businesses exercise caution leading up to Old Year's night.

"We are in the middle of a pandemic, with close to 3,000 lives lost. We have to protect each other, not only through vaccination, but also through responsible behaviour. It's not the time for irresponsibility, because people are literally dying.

"We have to continue pushing, and as we come to the year's end I hope people will spend some quiet time with their families and prepare for the year ahead."

Newsday contacted Scoon's mother, Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, for a response, but she declined comment.

This story has been updated to include additional details. Below is the original story published under the headline BOATT head: Bar owners watching outcome of Ocean Pelican incident

President of the Bar Owners Association of TT (BOATT) Sateesh Moonasar says bar owners and other safe-zone operators are eager to see whether any charges will be laid against guests and promoters of an event aboard a pleasure craft on Boxing Day.

It was reported that day that over 100 guests were temporarily detained by police at the Anchorage, Chaguaramas, for violating the public health regulations, which prohibit the use of party boats.

Western Division police said up to Tuesday afternoon they were still receiving advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on whether guests and promoters would be charged.

Contacted for comment on Tuesday, Moonasar said he did not understand why it was taking so long for charges to be laid, as he believes the event was a clear violation of the health regulations.

He also warned that the outcome of this enquiry was an important one, as it could set a precedent.

"Whatever is happening on a party boat is totally in violation of the health ordinance, so I do not see why it has to go to the DPP for the police to know what to do. It is clearly stated in the health ordinance, and we are closely watching the outcome of it, because if that can be allowed on a party boat without any charges laid, then there is no stopping safe-zone establishments from doing the same thing.

"Every single thing on that party boat is totally illegal and we are watching the situation carefully to see what the authority does, and based on the outcome of this will determine what safe-zone operators will be doing in the future."

Moonasar said he continued to encourage his members and other safe-zone operators to act responsibly and enforce the regulations at their establishments to avoid police involvement.

A media release from the Office of the Attorney General on Tuesday denied news reports that businessman Adrian Scoon, organiser of the event, sought advice from Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi on legal "loopholes" in the regulations.

The release added that while Scoon did contact Al-Rawi, the latter simply advised him to follow the law on party boats.

Contacted for comment, Al-Rawi said he has not been asked to make any updates to the public health regulations to prevent safe-zone operators from converting their establishments to dancehalls or nightclubs, and they were constantly seeking advice from health officials.

He added that given the number of covid19-related deaths reported over the past few weeks, it was important that people and businesses exercise caution leading up to Old Year's Night.

"We are in the middle of a pandemic, with close to 3000 lives lost. We have to protect each other, not only through vaccination, but also through responsible behaviour. It's not the time for irresponsibility, because people are literally duying.

"We have to continue pushing, and as we come to the year's end I hope people will spend some quiet time with their families and prepare for the year ahead."

Newsday contacted Scoon's mother, Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, for a response, but she declined comment.

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"[UPDATED] Jacob warns bar owners: Don’t put livelihoods before lives"

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