SEVEN persons, including a Trinidadian were arrested and charged on Saturday in Tobago for allegedly breaching Public Health Ordinance Regulations.
Police reported that instructions to arrest them came from Police Commissioner Gary Griffith who is presently abroad.
The individuals were arrested Store Bay Local Road, Crown Point, Tobago. They were among a large gathering of persons at Shepherd’s Inn, to register for the DSS Scheme.
Griffith saw images and videos of long lines and gave instructions to arrest anyone who was in breach of the Covid-19 regulations and to shut down the DSS operation.
Police reported that around 9am Senior Supt Garvin Simon coordinated a team of police officers who responded to a report that a large crowd had gathered outside the building to register for the DSS Scheme. On arrival, police informed the crowd that they were in breach of the Public Health Ordinance (2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Regulations 2020.
The majority of the persons quickly dispersed, but several refused to abide by the instructions of the police officers. As a result, those seven persons were arrested.
Corporal Andrews laid the charges.
They were: Janine Collins, 36, waitress, of St Augustine, Trinidad, Naomi Alexander, 21, student, Government Trace, Shevonne Hartell, 37, Manager, of Top Hill, Pembroke, Mia Charles, 31, self-employed, of Robert Street, Bon Accord, Anthony Caesar, 33, life guard, of Charlotteville, Tobago, Jennifer Latoch, 47, self-employed, of Cottage Street, Golden Lane and Kwesi Beckles, 42, labourer.
They will appear virtually before a Scarborough Magistrate on Monday.
Acting Commissioner of Police Mc Donald Jacob said the regulations were very clear.
He said there should be no gatherings of more than ten persons as stipulated in the Public Health regulations as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jacob said the police will enforce the law and warned persons about congregating in numbers which exceed the number stated in the Regulations.
