CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - THE eight-member American group that breached the COVID-19 protocols on Nevis were charged for the offence and found guilty after appearing before the Magistrate’s Courts in Charlestown yesterday (Mar. 17).
Providing an update on the situation, Superintendent of Police Cromwell Henry revealed that the group went before the Court virtually yesterday and were each fined $4,000.
“They were this morning [yesterday] taken before the Charlestown Magistrate’s Court via a virtual hearing to answer the charges. They pled guilty and were each convicted and fined $4,000 to be paid forthwith or serve six months in prison,” Henry explained.
The Americans remain at the facility under quarantine at Pot Works, and are said to be working with the Police Force to make arrangements for the fines to be paid.
When that payment is made, they would then be allowed to leave the Federation, Henry announced, adding that the other members from a group of 88 that came for a vacation in place were allowed to leave the Federation.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the arrest of the eight foreigners, the Superintendent announced that on Thursday, last, two individuals had left their vacation in place facility and ventured into an establishment in the Charlestown area some time after 1:00 p.m.
The duo was identified and reported to the police.
According to the police, the second incident occurred between 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. on March 13, when a group of six had left their hotel and went to a nearby bar - still not identified by police - to socialise with patrons before returning to their vacation in place facility.
That breach was also reported to the police and the individuals were arrested and a probe was launched.
Following those breaches, the eight individuals were moved to a government facility and placed under strict quarantine protocols.
Those incidents resulted in a drastic contact tracing programme by the Ministry of Health that resulted in 44 people being placed in quarantine.
So far, however, COVID-19 tests carried out on the individuals have returned negative.
