NASSAU-A Haitian street preacher has paid a $400 fine for breaking the coronavirus curfew.
Police arrested Etienne François after 10pm at the Prince Charles Drive on May 25.
François, 48, who is on the country on a work permit, pleaded guilty to violating the curfew when he appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes on May 27.
He told police that he was “walking and preaching and did not know he has reached as far as Prince Charles Drive.”
François lives on Palm Beach Street. If he didn’t pay the fine, he would’ve served two months in prison.
He was among several arrested for failing to abide by a stay-at-home order intended to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Cowpen Road resident Diana Pierre paid a $400 fine to avoid spending one month in prison for her curfew breach.
Police arrested her on Faith Avenue at 2:40 am on May 26.
She told police that she was unaware of the time of the curfew, the court heard.
A man who claimed he was dropping groceries to his girlfriend was also fined $400,
Police arrested Jawanni Williams, 21, at 12:45pm on May 25.
Williams told the court he was headed home after dropping off the groceries.
However, he gave a different account on arrest. When arrested, Williams told officers he was chilling with his cousin.
A man arrested during the lockdown at Arawak Cay has been freed on bail, pending his trial.
Police arrested 52-year-old Cambridge Cooper at Goldie’s Restaurant on May 24.
Cooper told the court that he worked as a caretaker at the restaurant.
He returns to court on October 8 for trial and is free on $500 bail.
Curfew violators risk fines up to $10,000 and maximum prison sentences of 18 months.
