Business owners could be fined, jailed for disobeying curfew
Business owners could be prosecuted, fined and even imprisoned if they do not comply with the government-imposed commerce curfew.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Alwin James, breaking the ongoing 6 am to 8 pm curfew is a summary offence under the territory’s Public Health Act.
“It is a $1,000 fine and a 12 month-imprisonment. It is possible also that it may affect their operating license in terms of the future because we will report that information — to Cabinet — of the constant violators as it relates to this area,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
Report them!
In the meantime, James made an appeal to the members of the public to play their part in keeping the territory free from COVID-19.
“We are asking members of the community who are seeing violators of the business curfew to dial into our 311 number and report it and officers will respond. Businesses have to close at 8 pm and remain closed until 6 am.”
James said there are instances where employees are required to restock the goods on supermarket shelves which is not an issue.
“It’s not about restricting people’s movement. It’s about the services of businesses. The police are going to take a sensible and pragmatic approach towards the enforcement of those restrictions, but we are asking persons to be compliant because it is also about their safety and security,” he further said.
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Each one should help one and if you see something say something. We should not be so selfish with our greed and avarice that it impacts the health and safety of others. Covid-19 is a serious disease with no cure and no vaccine. The best course of action is to prevent, contain, control and mitigate the virus. Furthermore, each of us should to the maximum extent practical avoid contracting the disease and overwhelming the health system.
A major outbreak can overwhelmed the hospital, ie, lack of beds, lack of doctors, nurses, technicians …..etc. An overwhelmed health system is something we should try to avoid at all cost. We must change our behaviour to do so and an important behavioral change is social distancing. Stay the he….l away from crowds. Geez som bred!
What a beautiful pic of our capitol city. Let us all follow the guidelines of protection and keep the BVI safe. Relax, read, pray, exercise, get those jobs around the house done, spend time with family. Stay home and be safe. Mother Earth and all of us will get a new fresh of air soon. #bvistrong
Is it a valid curfew? In Law Isn’t it The Governor To Call A Curfew? In The Official Announcement Never Mention Curfew. You Can’t Catch Coronavirus From 6am-8pm but It’s Highly That You Can Catch It From 8pm-6am? ?
Right. Like the BVI has a history of enforcing the law.
There is NO curfew in effect currently. There is simply a directive for all businesses to have closed by 8pm, in the hopes that those of us living in the territory will then go home and self isolate, instead of socialising and potentially spreading the virus.
alot of businesses still not providing necessary sanitary marerials for their employees and customers. Bathroom no soap, sometimes no water, no hand sanitizer so even the customers have to walk with piece of soap in their bag just in case.
please inspect businesses. Make it mandatory that they provide and maintain cleanliness too if they decides to stay open during the day hours.
I watched tonight the club open well past 8pm and a large crowd of at least 50 people outside
I guess someone is PAYING TO BE EXEMPT
Esteemed pulls the strings on that one..
Government said lay off without any benefit for the employees so that employer not get profit from the employees before? Now the situation if they don’t work who will feed them and who will pay rent for the house some of them still struggling their bills they don’t realize that and even no airport so how they go outsiders and if they employer not support they don’t think only thinking about employers