By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE country is in a State of Emergency (SoE) and as such no permission will be granted any activity with large gatherings.
On Tuesday, Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, said it was brought to his attention that there were persons who were planning a protest by way of a motorcade on Friday nearby Parliament.
In a statement by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Griffith noted that those persons needed to get the necessary permission from the Office of the Commissioner of Police.
He advises that such permission will not be granted at this time as the country was in an SoE, dealing with an invisible enemy, Covid-19.
Those persons planning this motorcade will be contacted and questioned by police officers, the TTPS stated.
At 1.20pm on Tuesday, AZPNews.com was informed by a member of the group that it was aware of the statement made by Griffith and was currently seeking legal advice.
The individual said, “We saw the bulletin. We are seeking legal advice. On a scale of one to ten once the law stands, more than likely, the event will be cancelled.”
AZPNews.com obtained a letter from David Welch, of Trio.TT, asking permission from Griffith to stage a motorcade from the Francis Seepaul Recreation Ground in Debe to the Red House in Port-of-Spain on Friday “geared to get Trinidad and Tobago economy reopened…” The letter was date July 6, 2021.
Griffith advised that the organisers of the planned motorcade take note of Section 107 of Summary Offences Act Chap 11:02 which defines a public march as “any march or procession in a public place comprising (whether wholly or partly) pedestrians, vehicles (however propelled or drawn), or bicycles (however propelled).”
He also reminded persons that in accordance to Section 112 of Summary Offences Act Chap 11:02, “no person may organise, lead or take part in any public march unless a permit has been issued in respect thereof by the Commissioner of Police.”
Griffith said his officers have been briefed and they have been instructed to do all that was necessary to disperse any such planned procession.
He said there were consequences to persons who assist in such an exercise and stated the law to back his statements.
Griffith also said that recently, a Member of Parliament, called on members of the public to come out and assemble during a protest action, which again, was in breach of the laws.
And he said the public health regulations were already in effect and stated that there be no gathering of persons in excess of five.
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