By Sue-Ann Wayow
BAR owners are claiming that members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) are abusing their authoritative power by wrongfully charging and terrorising bar owners and patrons operating under the TT Safe Zone policy.
In a statement on Facebook this week, the Barkeepers and Operators Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BOATT) stated that officers were accepting only original proof of vaccination which is in contravention of the public health ordinance and a clear abuse of power.
The association has written to DCP MacDonald Jacob requesting his immediate intervention as well as a meeting to discuss the matter further.
The current health ordinance legal notice no. 262, section 6, subsection 2(b) states, “Only vaccinated persons 12 years of age and over, on presenting a valid vaccination card or a copy thereof and a form of identification at point of entry, are allowed within the premises of the business” (safe zone).
Minister of Health Terrance Deyalsingh at the ministry’s press conference on October 27 stated that both a photocopy and an electronic copy (photo on phone) was acceptable to enter a safe zone, the association stated.
BOATT stated, “The BOATT is even more so deeply concerned about this situation as the South Western division is the only division in Trinidad and Tobago intentionally carrying out this error in enforcement which raises the question about an alleged ulterior motive by TTPS officers in this specific area.”
BOATT’s president Satesh Moonesar told AZPNews.com on Wednesday that he received an acknowledgement from the Office of the Commissioner of Police and was looking forward to a meeting to discuss the issues.
He said, “Since the TT Safe Zone has been implemented this problem has been occurring. We have had numerous complaints from bars all over the country. I would say 90% of the bar owners are adhering to the health protocols and there are about 10% who are not. But some bars seem to be protected by police because you are seeing the police going to particular bars again and again and terrorising people but in others where there is a breach of protocol, they are not doing the people there anything. All of these issues we want to discuss.”
Moonesar is not the first one to complain of such behaviour as the issue was also raised by MovieTowne’s owner Derek Chin.
