Police have to date arrested 20 men for curfew violations and pledge to continue enforcement, as The Bahamas tries to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
As of Tuesday, March 24, there were five confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country and no reported deaths.
In an effort to prevent the disease from spiralling out of control like it has in some countries, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis imposed a curfew on March 20 that is set to end on March 31.
The nationwide curfew was initially set from 9pm to 5am. However, Prime Minister Minnis imposed a 24-hour curfew as of March 24 with certain exceptions.
Citizens should only be on the streets for essential travel to the doctor, grocery store, pharmacy or to refuel.
These businesses must ensure that staff and customers are at least six feet from other.
Anyone who must leave home during the curfew should inform police by calling 311 to avoid arrest.
Curfew violators ordered to pay fines to avoid jail
Eleven men were fined for curfew violations today after they appeared before magistrates in New providence and in Abaco.
Police arrested Darcy Ellis, 22, and Chilico Knowles, 21, after they were found on the streets of New Providence during the curfew period of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt ordered both men to pay $600 fines to avoid 10 days in prison.
Police picked up Ellis near Potter’s Cay Dock on March 22 at 10:35pm.
Ellis claimed that he had walked to the Central Police Station to make a report and was headed to his home at Sears Hill when police stopped him.
However, police records did not confirm his account.
Officers on patrol saw Knowles driving on St. Barts Road around 10:25 p.m. on March 23.
Police beckoned him to stop. But he sped off instead.
The ensuing chase ended when Ellis turned into his yard at Windward Isles Road.
Knowles said he had fallen asleep at a friend’s home and was in a hurry to head home.
He didn’t hear the sirens or see the patrol car’s flashing lights.
Ferguson-Pratt told both men, “You are jeopardizing your health and the health of others. Please stay at home.”
A third man, Mel’shaddi Newry, 26, denied violating the curfew on March 23 at 11:30 p.m.
He was granted $1,000 bail and returns to court for trial on September 2.
Police allege that Newry, of Windward Isles Road, was found in the street.
Ten accused of violating curfew in Abaco
In Abaco, nine men were fined $1,500 each for violating the curfew.
Antonio Brown, Vandyke Stuart, Leoland Storr, Vandyke Stuart Jr. , Donald John, Darren McIntosh, Oniel Archer, Calis Meuze and Jermaine Missick must pay their fines by March 27 to avoid serving prison sentences of three months.
Commar Richards was also accused of violating his curfew but remanded until immigration could check his status in the country.
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