BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AS of today (May 27), the police will be issuing tickets to anyone found not wearing a face mask in public areas; a mandate that was passed by the Government last year.
As part of a number of sweeping measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation, the Government had passed legislation, including mandating the wearing of face masks while out in public, and failure to do so will result in those people being fined.
There were a number of delays in having the tickets printed, but Superintendent Cromwell Henry informed that they have been issued to all police officers.
“I am pleased to announce that we now have the ticket books on hand. They have been distributed, and so effective tomorrow [today]...so persons would be liable and ticketed for any breach of these protocols,” Henry stated.
Steps have been taken to enforce all of the regulations aimed at preventing community spread, including limiting travel on buses.
Speaking at last evening’s NEOC media brief, Henry warned passenger bus drivers that they too would be ticketed.
“If the passenger buses are carrying more than 50 percent passenger capacity, the driv of the bus will be liable to be ticketed. If the passenger is not wearing their mask on the bus, the passengers will be liable to be ticketed,” added Henry.
Bus drivers can also be ticketed for failing to have passengers wear face masks while in the bus, as well as for failing to have passengers properly socially distanced.
The tickets are fines range from $100 to $500, and Henry has urged citizens and residents as well as visitors not to give the police any reason to have them ticketed, as “we have delayed the use of these tickets for quite a long time and it means that we do not want to use them”.
Moreover, all public transportation, including buses, ferries and hire cars are expected to enforce all of the stipulated regulations, Henry reminded.
Failure to comply with the regulations will see a fine of $5,000 or a term of imprisonment being instituted for breaking the regulations.
“...these are public health measures aimed at preventing the spread of the Coronavirus, and so we anticipate your full cooperation,” added Superintendent Henry.
Last year, over 150 people were taken before the court for breaching the regulations and they were fined $5,000 each for various offenses, including, but not limited to, flouting the curfew mandate.
