Nassau, BAHAMAS- Last week police charged 83 people with breaking a nationwide curfew aimed to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Curfew violators face a maximum 18-month prison term or a fine of up to $10,000. Despite this, for the most part magistrates have imposed fines ranging from $200 to $1,500 for people found roaming the streets without a valid excuse.
However, police in Grand Bahama said Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson sentenced a homeless man to one year in prison for breaking the curfew. Police did not disclose the circumstances of his arrest.
Some of the curfew violators left their homes to visit a significant other, to buy alcohol and to collect owed money. Residents are required to call 311 to receive authorization to leave their homes during the curfew for non-essential business.
The country recorded its first case of the coronavirus on March 15. Five days later, on March 20, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis ordered the closure of nonessential government offices and businesses and imposed a curfew from 9pm to 5am. Minnis also banned large public gatherings and limited the number of people who could attend weddings and funerals.
Then, on March 24, the prime minister extended the curfew to 24-hours. He also closed beaches, parks and docks in an effort to stop the potentially deadly respiratory disease from overwhelming the country’s health system.
Citizens are supposed to remain inside their home unless they are classified as essential workers. Other exceptions include persons traveling to or from an essential business, food delivery, and up to 90 minutes of exercise within your neighborhood. Businesses that remain open operate on reduced hours and must limit the number of people inside to maintain social distancing.
The curfew ends on March 31. However, the current curfew could be a rehearsal for a longer lockdown.
Attorney General Carl Bethell recently told reporters that medical professionals suggested extending the curfew by 30 days to reduce the spread of the disease as the country records more cases.
As of March 28, the country had 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no deaths. Worldwide there are 660,706 cases of the disease; 139,415 recoveries and 30,652 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Copyright Bahamas Court News. All rights reserved.
