by Linda Straker
- 3 bus drivers charged for overloading buses in violation of one-to-a-seat rule
- 7 arrested for alcohol consumption at shops
- Any person charged under State of Emergency regulations liable to EC$1,000 fine or 12-months imprisonment
Edvin Martin, Acting Commissioner of Police, has confirmed that since Grenada began the limited State of Emergency last Wednesday as part of mandatory measures aimed at reducing the spread of Covid-19, police have charged 27 persons for violating the curfew and other section of the regulations.
Describing the charges as a lack of cooperation from persons, Martin said that 7 were arrested for the consumption of alcohol at shops, while 3 are bus drivers charged for overloading buses in violation of the one-to-a-seat rule. “The RGPF arrested 27 persons specific to the limited state of emergency for lack of cooperation; breaking curfew, leaving their place of residence without due cause and a number of matters that have put us in an environment that makes it difficult to enforce the social distancing.”
He pointed out that the police have adopted 2 measures to handle the law violators. “All of the 27, so far they have been processed by the police in one of two ways. We granted bail to some of those and others we have decided based on the minor nature of the offence to take them by summons and we have made that conscious decision for 2 things: given the small size of our cells, not wanting to keep a large number of persons and not being able to have to social distance in the cells,” Martin said in a news conference late Monday afternoon.
Speaking specifically to the sale of alcohol, the Acting Commissioner said that the sale of alcohol is not allowed, especially in small shops that are twinned with grocery shops. “And yes shopkeepers, we are aware of the backdoor strategy. We are aware of the locking inside but you cannot keep silent, so we know you will be there,” he said, pleading for the public to do what is necessary and exercise the discipline that is required to reverse the spread of Covid-19.
No form of loitering will be allowed during the days that people can purchase groceries from shops. “We expect individuals to go to a shop, you make your purchase, you do what you have to do, and you go straight back home. We will not entertain or allow any form of gathering or socialisation, in or around any shop at this point in time,” Martin said.
Any person charged under the State of Emergency regulations is liable to a fine of EC$1,000 or 12-months imprisonment.
On 22 March, Health Minister, Nickolas Steele, announced that Grenada had confirmed its first Covid-19 case. On 26 March, he announced a further 6 confirmations and on 29 March, a further 2 cases. Confirmed Covid-19 cases as of 29 March, stands at 9.
Immediately following the first announcement, Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell declared that the island will be in a limited state of emergency with a curfew from 7 pm to 5 am. The aim of the limited State of Emergency is to reduce transmission, but during the period first few days, violations of the State of Emergency regulations began increasing and as of Monday, 30 March Grenada began a 24-hour mandatory curfew until 6 April.
Papa Joe, this commentator needs a blog.
Brutally real My people prevention is better when there is no cure. #please Stay home
Entertaining isn’t it? I like to take a little break sometimes and really address some of the nonsense people come online with without thinking rationally. They leave their mess behind and disappear like children for someone else to clean up after them. Pure hearsay and secondhand nonsense they refuse to validate themselves. They’re gonna learn TODAY!
Stay informed and stay safe and don’t listen to folk from the Deep State.
This is not surprising. We have the same issue over here people not adhering to what is expected of them. A few examples are a group of people decided to have a BBQ another hold a karaoke party and the stupidest one is where a man and wife whom bought some windows on ebay and travelled 220 miles to collect them. Because the windows took up all the space in the car the wife had to travel in the boot of the car for the return journey.
Oh…and for the religious fanatics and conspiracy theorist that may comment below we’ve just about had enough of your babbling. You may mean will but honestly these prayers and deep state thinking is not going to trump common sense and science. What would really help is that you stay vigilant and advise those who display the inability to use their judgement and discretion to be mindful. You’re prayers in private won’t help these people, your words to then would be more effective.
And yes I know you may not like my approach and may feel attacked or offended. You absolutely have all right to feel offended, what you don’t have is the right to NOT feel offended. But of course I mean all that I said in the most pleasant, kind, and respectful way.
There will always be people who look for conspiracies! For Heaven’s Sake nobody in the United States is that smart that they can pull off a massive pandemic of this size as some kind of deep State Operation.
I wish people would just learn to take things at face value. In this case unfortunately people aren’t taking it seriously and there are consequences. However, in Canada we have not resorted t to arresting people. I must say Grenada is much stricter.
Word is leaking out slowly that this pandemic is a global “live exercise” initiated by deep state criminals in the USA. This was admitted more than a week ago by Secretary of State, (ex CIA) Mike Pompeo. There is so much evidence for this it would be impossible to list everything here, but start by doing a search for “empty hospitals”.
I’m disappointed but not surprised that officials in Grenada don’t know this. Most people blindly trust what they are told and if it’s on CNN it must be true, but as natural born US citizen I can tell you that the entire system is a rotten mess.
You said absolutely nothing here Steve. A wild conspiracy theory with absolutely no supporting evidence. Why should we listen to YOU random Steve natural born from US? Tell us Steve? Having all this secret information please enlighten us 3rd world folks Steve. Tell us what to do Steve since we cannot trust a word from ANYBODY? I await your eloquent informative words and hope you don’t deflect from the topic.
You seem a little too emotional to have a reasonable discussion. Since you are so frightened, I think you should definitely wear a mask and everyone should remain calm and obey the instructions of the authorities. Having said that, big boys and girls should also use their brain to do their own research and decide which of their rights they wish to give up in the future and which are worth fighting for.
Emotional Steve? Far from it. I’m in a VERY clam space Mr. Natural Born. Your information is neither reasonable nor does it need a conversation Mr. Deep State. You are changing your tune and tome to only NOW be speaking about caution. You don’t like being called on your BS do you? LOL. Don’t flake now Steve. “everyone should remain calm and obey the instructions of the authorities” I thought we were not supposed to trust them? While you’re at it do some research on cognitive dissonance. Okay Steve? Don’t get your panties in a bunch. Stay deep and stay safe 🙂
While I agree wholeheartedly with a lockdown, I find it most unfair that when we do have to make that NECESSARY trip for essential food that we all will need to do unless you have cleaned out the shelves in a selfish act of panic buying, that we are only allowed to shop in the parish that we reside. This simply means that anyone who lives outside the parish of St George’s, will be at a major disadvantage. Most people will probably choose to shop locally but all Grenadians should be treated equally to avoid resentment which is very common amongst us Grenadians.
“Grenadians should be treated equally”
HOW are they being treated unequally Carl? What is it that you absolutely need to get that there isn’t a substitute for? What if I only like CRIX from a particular supermarket at a particular price point in Grenville but I live in St. George? Should I do as I’m accustomed and make the trip up there so as to feel that I’m treated equally and not feel forced by the very unfair police department? What you’re saying here Carl, I understand but that kind of whiny attitude is what could add to an already volitile situation. Stay put Carl, it’s okay to run out of your favorite Real Value ice cream. I guarantee you won’t die from eating a few items that’s not up to you strict nutritional standards.
Our peiple some of them have not realized the grave risks despite the graphic examples given by Minister Steele on the recent joint broadcast.
Tragic for them, for us ,each one of us.
That’s why Suzuki-Man had to speak to them like spoiled children. He was just about two microns away from letting us have some full on badwords for our blatant stupidity. Some cut ass was almost about to pass.
It is no secret that a large portion of our population are indeed very uneducated (not just meaning academically), morally, socially, and emotionally bankrupt. And I mean this in the most kind and extremely concerned way possible. We are a reactive society. We have all the answers and what should or could be done AFTER the fact. I was of the belief that in the most simple terms we had understood the purpose of social distancing. If we had adhere to the indicated period then within that two weeks anyone who felt sick or had symptoms would know so and seek medical help. The period after that would have been for recovery. So as not to create a situation were we have new infections every other day and prolong this lockdown. But that was obviously just too hard for the irrational to rationalize. We are so called proud people but I refuse to ignore the fact that the loudest amongst us are usually the most uneducated and unproductive.
Mr. Martin,
I strongly support all that you and the government are doing to cut down on the spread of COVID-19 by enforcing the those laws and implementing that curfew. It really hurts my heart to see how the people display no regards for authority and in return trying to jeopardize the lives of innocent civilians. Thank you for all you do to ensure safety of the people by enforcing the laws necessary to help save lives.
Maybe higher fine will deter them from breaking the law,
They should be assigned to care for the infected. If additional resources are required. Names and addresses of the violators would be on the auxiliary resource shortlist. Failure to comply would result in mandatory jail time or community services.
People are still flouting the laws thinking it doesnt apply to them. These people are dangerous and should be treated as criminals!!!
I say those need to curled. It’s these same ones that would flee to the hospital, if the virus had a faster and higher mortality rate. Same ones that would complain and depend on our already dysfunctional government to “do something” and “help” them. The fact is we have zero resources to handle anything close to an actual outbreak here. Prevent is our only and last resort. We have no options, no help. The so called first world countries can’t even handle this sh!t.