Man who breached curfew punished by “standing and displaying the curfew notice”

A man was on Wednesday sentenced to an hour of “standing and displaying the curfew notice” as punishment after he breached the national curfew that was implemented by the Public Health Ministry to help curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Romal Gardner, a resident of the East Bank of Demerara (ECD) appeared at the Diamond-Grove Magistrate’s Court.
Gardener was seen walking up and down in front of the Diamond-Grove Police Station, holding a pink cardboard, which read: “I have breached the curfew. COVID-19 is deadly. Please stay indoors. Orders by the Court Diamond/Grove.”
He was charged for breach of restriction to home, in contravention of No 1 Restriction of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures #53/2020, contrary to Section 21 (2) of the Public Health Ordinance, Chapter 145.
The national curfew – 18:00h to 06:00h – was implemented to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Since its implementation, a number of persons have been arrested for disregarding it.
Several persons who violated the national curfew were expected to be charged and placed before the courts in Linden as ranks in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are trying to enforce the measures implemented to combat COVID-19.
Regional Police Commander, Superintendent Hugh Winter noted that anyone who attempts to make their way into the community from Georgetown via the Bamia-Soesdyke-Linden Highway route after the curfew starts would be redirected back to their location or may be required to wait until the following morning.
On Monday, 28-year-old Christopher Nicholson was killed while three of his friends – ages 15, 17 and 23 – were injured in an accident which occurred during curfew along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. The four were heading to a creek at 20:00h despite the national curfew.
Also, on Monday evening, despite lockdown measures across the country, a heated cockfight was hosted at approximately 20:00h at Tarla Dam, Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
Persons were congregated in a large group even as calls for social distancing have heightened in recent days. In fact, the gathering consisted of more than 20 persons, many of whom were not wearing face masks.