COMMISSIONER of Police Gary Griffith has directed that a police officer be issued with a ticket for breaching the Public Health Ordinance Regulations by not wearing a mask in public.
The officer who works at the Port-of-Spain CID, was on duty in downtown Port-of-Spain on Friday with other officers and was seen not wearing a mask.
In a statement by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the Commissioner said he took no pleasure in giving the directive but law protectors must lead by example.
He said, “We are here to lead by example. We are here to ensure that everyone adheres to the regulations. We cannot be seen breaching the said regulations.”
He has also asked for a report as to why the police officer was brandishing a sophisticated weapon in public without the “POLICE” insignia on his clothing.
About the breach of Covid-19 regulations, Griffith said, “There is a reason why persons are not allowed in the bars because you are trying to avoid close proximity to other persons. But if 50 persons are not allowed in a bar but the 50 persons instead go outside on the pavement, it poses a greater risk and health factor to you and others because you are now converging in a much tighter space than in the bar. The law was made to stop people from being in the bar, but by you going on the outside, is making it even worse.”
Griffith said, “It gives me no pleasure to try to enforce these laws and to cause persons to lose $1,000. So all I ask persons is just to adhere to the regulations. I am going to intensify it.”
The commissioner who returned to office on Thursday added that comprehensive operational plans will be executed throughout the beaches, especially at Maracas Bay where he was informed that persons were coming out of the water and sitting on the beach without masks.
