PM: Curfew Coming!
FROM tomorrow, Barbadians’ movement will be significantly restricted following the announcement of a curfew being put in place until April 14, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day .
This announcement was made by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley during a broadcast that aired just after 8 p.m. last night, when it was revealed that the number of positive cases has increased from 18 to 24 since the last update given on Tuesday. Even though the updated figure was one less than the 25-person threshold outlined previously, it was decided to activate Stage 3 of the country’s response.
Prime Minister Mottley further explained that apart from essential services, there are a number of services that will be allowed to operate during the course of the day during this period, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Giving a sense of what these may include, she highlighted grocery stores, restaurants, (take-away or drive-thru only), shops, commercial bakeries, butcher shops, abattoirs, fishermen, farmers and gas stations.
She added that critical government departments, to be identified, will remain open between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to service members of the public. “While there will be therefore some activity remaining between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., we are appealing to all Barbadians to please minimise the number of times you need to go outside. Persons have done well thus far. This period of time can be seen as a vacation, as a chance to recharge, others to read and to do other things you want to do in your garden or around your house...but what we want you to do is stay off the road as far as possible."
In order to enact the curfew, both Houses of Parliament must meet today in order to amend the Emergency Management Act, which will allow government to be able to declare a Public Health Emergency. This, according to Prime Minister Mottley, will trigger a number of actions including the ability to restrict the movement of persons.
This excludes essential services, which she listed as the uniformed organisations of Barbados, RBPF, the Barbados Fire Service, the Prison Service, Immigration Department, Customs Officers, medical and paramedical professionals, caregivers, hospital providers, the provision of electricity, telecommunications, media and broadcasting services, the provision of essential transport the collection, storage, purification of water, by the public or any section of the public, the collection, treatment or disposal of sewage, garbage or refuse, and regrettably the removing and handling of persons who have passed away.
She stated that tonight, the Attorney General Dale Marshall along with Barbados' COVID-19 Czar Richard Carter, Minister of Health Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic, along with the Chief Medical Officer will address the public in greater detail about the restrictions starting on Saturday.
The Prime Minister told the members of the public that during the curfew, the Government of Barbados “is not playing”. “Law enforcement shall be instructed to apply and enforce the law fairly, transparently and without fear. All persons not falling within the stated ambit of essential services and not having good reason for being on the road after 8 p.m. and before 6 a.m. shall be dealt with in accordance with the spirit and intent of the Law. It would be useful for us to know that as of this hour more than one-quarter of the world’s population is on what can be referred to as lock down for their own good. For our own good,” she said.
“COVID-19 can only spread in our country if persons resident here therefore maintain the type of physical interactions that the World Health Organisation and other agencies have frowned upon... I call on you to honour and respect the measures we are putting in place to safeguard and protect you,” the Prime Minister said. (JH)