AG plans taking stern line on COVID-19 infractions

OVER the last few weeks, several persons were placed before the local magistrates’ courts on charges of flouting the mandatory novel coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines.
It in light of the foregoing development that Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall is looking to implement more coercive and punitive measures to ensure full compliance by citizens.

The Attorney-General made known his position on the matter via the National Communication Network (NCN) programme, ‘Government in Focus’, saying: “We have a pandemic of gigantic proportions on our hands that, unfortunately, is getting bigger. Hopefully, it does not get to the stage where it is beyond our control, but unless it is harnessed; unless it is taken a grip of, it can quickly reach there, and we can move swiftly into a disaster zone in this country.”

Noting that it is imperative that the current guidelines be reviewed and modified to ensure that more disciplinary action taken to ensure the enforcement component is strong, he said that among current measures to have been implemented, as of August 16, are the extension of the curfew from 9pm – 5am in all regions, except Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

And while the curfew time for the three regions at reference is still 6pm – 6am, according to the minister, the current $3000 fine for breaching these measures doesn’t seem to be working at all.
“You have to make it higher, and you have to involve both the occupier and the occupants of a business,” he said, adding: “So, let us say you have a business and you are opening within the hours permitted, and there is a person there without a mask, we charge the proprietor and the occupier of the premises or the customer, or the patron.”
He is all for making the wearing of masks mandatory, as well, and the fines attached to the violation thereof even stiffer.

He is of the view that if such drastic measures are not taken, then the government will have no other choice but to go on “complete lockdown”. As things stand, he said, the administration is currently consulting with other stakeholders on the issue of a total shutdown of the country.

“I do not know if we have reached the stage of a total lockdown but… people must understand, this pandemic is hitting you from every sector; from every conceivable angle. You can’t earn; you can’t work, and when you get sick, it is extraordinarily difficult to function in these kinds of dynamics, so we have to adjust those measures,” the Attorney-General said, adding: “The government is pursuing every avenue available to get more medical supplies into the country” to address the increase in numbers of persons testing positive for COVID-19.

Since taking up office on August 2, 2020, President Irfaan Ali has religiously stressed that addressing COVID-19 will be a priority for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government.