By Sue-Ann Wayow
MERE hours after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley emphasised that there should be no large gatherings as Covid-19 protocols remained in effect, more than 250 were held for taking place in a zesser party in Kelly Village, Caroni.
Police Commissioner Gary Griffith has given directions that all the people caught be charged for breaching Covid-19 Public Health Regulations.
He gave the direction that they all be charged under Paragraph 4 (d)of the public heath coronavirus legislation, which states that when persons turn their private property into a public area to hold public parties or public fetes they are in breach of the regulation.
In a press release by the TTPS, stated that heavy emphasis will be placed on targeting and shutting down any parties of this nature on both private or public property.
Police stepped in on the party being held at a warehouse at Kelly Village, Caroni.
The TTPS stated, “Those persons who choose to patronise events of this nature will be arrested, as this irresponsible conduct can be the biggest hurdle to reducing the number of Covid -19 patients in the country over the next few months.”
Griffith said, “The next objective is to prevent these Zesser parties, whereby the organisers are trying to beat the system, using the get out of jail free card by stating it is private property.
“Persons inviting their family and personal friends in small numbers to their home on private property is something totally different, as there is no law being broken, but they do have a responsibility to act in consideration of the Covid-19 guidelines and protocols.”
He added, “This is totally different to zesser parties, where organisers are advertising prior to the event and patrons are paying a cover charge to enter the premise of persons they do not even know, with a cash bar at the event.
“This takes away the get out of jail free card of it being private property as such the police would treat it as a violation of the legislation.”
The TTPS added that some persons have been released and will be charged via summons with all names and addresses having been secured by the TTPS.
The matter is ongoing and investigations are continuing.
The exercise was led by Snr Superintendent Simon with an Interagency Task force comprised of Special Operations Response Team (SORT), Multi Operational Police Squad (MOPS) and the Gang Unit.
