The Tribune

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT

tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net

A LOCAL floating bar has been cited some four times for breaching COVID-19 emergency orders, according to police.

Officer-in-Charge of the COVID Enforcement Unit, Chief Superintendent Zhivargo Dames was contacted about the floating bar on East Bay Street after pictures were recently sent to The Tribune of patrons crowded on the boat, not observing social distancing.

“The floating bar in question has been cited a number of times by the COVID Enforcement Unit,” Chief Supt Dames said. “They were cited about four times between October of 2020 and March of 2021. It’s interesting to see that this is recent.”

Asked about another bar in question that is said to also be in breach of protocols, Chief Supt Dames said it only appears to be so but officers have proven otherwise.

“The thing with (that other bar) is that you might find a lot of cars there but as you go into the establishment itself, you would see that they are operating under the capacity of persons who are supposed to be there and they are following all of the protocols,” CSP Dames said.

“That is not to say that in the beginning we did not have to cite that location for breach of protocols, but in recent times of our checking the establishment, we have found them to be compliant with the orders.”

The Royal Bahamas Police Force has been criticised for not enforcing the emergency orders as they pertain to restaurants, bars, gatherings and the wearing of masks. Chief Supt Dames took exception to this and gave numbers to the contrary.

“If the persons are saying the rules need to be enforced, the thing is that according to my data, the COVID Enforcement Unit is up and about every day doing its job for which it was formed,” he continued. “For a year, thus far to date, we have issued some 831 citations.

“We have issued persons patronising a prohibited business some 234 citations; breach of curfew some 103 citations; not wearing a mask as required 102 citations; operating a prohibited business some 100 plus citations. So I am not sure who it is making these assertions, but according to the data that we have gathered the Enforcement Unit is out there doing its job.

“Now can we do a little bit more? Yes we can. We can always improve on what we are doing, but I must say as the officer in charge of the unit we are up and about every day doing our best to enforce the protocols and I think the data is there to back me up on that.”

He said repeat offenders are also penalised.

“Of course we have some persons who have been repeat offenders and wherever we find that we take the necessary action against them,” CSP Dames explained. “If you find a business which has been cited and we would have taken that business to court and they are convicted, on the second time the fine goes up to about $10,000, if I remember correctly, and your business license can be revoked for up to 14 days.

“Then on a second summary conviction the fine goes up to $30,000 and your business license can be revoked according to the orders. This pandemic has truly brought on a level of uncertainty that is unprecedented.”

Chief Supt Dames urged people to follow the protocols set by the authorities as he thinks in the not too distant future the country will emerge from the pandemic.