By Prior Beharry
NO drinking of alcohol in public.
This is just one of the new measures that has been implemented in the Emergency Powers Regulations 2021, published on Sunday in Legal Notice No. 142 and made pursuant to the Proclamation declaring the State of Emergency in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Regulations have also stopped contact sports, outdoor sports and exercising in a public place.
They have also prohibited sport clubs such as cycling, running, hiking and swimming.
There is a curfew in place from 9pm to 5am, but outside those hours, the Regulations state a person shall not:
(a) gather in any public place unless the gathering–
(i) for the purpose of the services are specified in subregulation (10);
(ii) does not exceed five persons at a time;
(b) be at any work place unless the services are specified in subregulation (10) and shall where possible work from home;
(c) be found at or in any beach, sea, river, stream, pond, spring or similar body of water, any public pool or any mud volcano or mud pool for recreational purposes;
(d) operate a party boat, boat tour or club;
(e) hold public parties or public fetes;
(f) have a public or private pre-school, early childhood education centre, open for classes in such places;
(g) operate a day-care or pre-school for children for the care or education of young children;
(h) operate a water park or amusement park;
(i) operate a bar or restaurant;
(j) sell, or offer for sale food or drink as a street vendor;
(k) consume alcohol in a public place;
(l) participate in any group contact sports;
(m) participate in any team sports; (n) participate in outdoor sports or exercise in public places; or
(o) operate any sport clubs including cycling, running, hiking, swimming, golf, tennis, football, rugby and hockey clubs, except where authorised by the Minister.
The Regulations also give police officers an option to disperse people who are gathering in public in lieu of arrest.
They also allow a police officer to arrest without a warrant.
- (1) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a police officer may arrest without warrant, any person who he reasonably suspects has acted or is acting or is about to act in a manner prejudical to public health, public safety or to public order or to have committed or is committing or is about to commit an offence against these Regulations.
Anyone who contravenes these Regulations commits an offence and is liable upon summary conviction to a fine of $250,000 and to imprisonment for six months.
