Nassau, BAHAMAS- Time ran out today for a man who broke the nationwide curfew aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus in the country a second time.
Stephen Walkes today spends the first night of an eight-month prison sentence for his second curfew violation. That’s because he didn’t pay his $750 fine by the time the court’s accounts section closed.
Walkes’ relatives can still pay the fine. However, the repeat offender’s release could be delayed since the prison is on lockdown.
Walkes, 23, of Augusta Street, first ignored the 24-hour curfew on March 25. That’s when police found him on Poinciana Avenue around 12:30am.
Although curfew violators face up to 18 months in prison and and $10,000 fine, Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes gave the first-time offender a break.
On March 26, Walkes paid a $250 fine to avoid spending two months in prison for violating the curfew.
But Walkes clearly didn’t take his conviction seriously.
Just a day later, police arrested him AGAIN for breaking the curfew.
YOUNG STILL DISREGARD CURFEW
Forbes said that it was clear that people in the 18 to 35 age group didn’t appreciate the importance of the curfew.
The curfew that came into effect on March 20 aims to eliminate unnecessary social interactions. Heath officials say that social distancing is the main way to avoid exposure to the highly contagious disease.
Despite this, Forbes said he still encounters bumper-to-bumper traffic on his daily commute to work.
As of March 31, the country has 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Worldwide there are 850,583 confirmed cases and 41,654 deaths.
Local police have prosecuted more than 100 people for curfew violations.
The curfew has closed non-essential businesses and public spaces like parks to promote social distancing.
The curfew requires residents to remain confined to their homes unless traveling to conduct essential business like going to the bank, pharmacy or grocery store.
Law enforcement, medical personnel and the media are among those exempted from the curfew.
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