First curfew breacher jailed
(CNS): The first person charged by police for breaching the COVID-19 nighttime hard curfew appeared in Summary Court on Friday, and after pleading guilty was jailed for four months. Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said the presiding magistrate had delivered a powerful and important message of the seriousness of this offence, warning that more were coming as government tries to contain this dangerous coronavirus.
Giving the curfew updates for the day at the regular press briefing, the commissioner said that another 21 files were already with prosecutors, with the aim of having these curfew breaches brought before the courts as quickly as possible. He added that several more files were being prepared to send to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
During today’s hearing, he said the magistrate recalled the comments by the premier and governor that breaching the curfew was extremely serious and in this case the defendant, who has not been named as no summary court lists are currently available, was said to have deliberately breached the curfew.
Quoting the magistrate, Byrne said that, “There was no misunderstanding, no lack of awareness and no emergency circumstances” relating to the defendant’s guilt. “The defendant had high culpability… and the risk of harm… was at the most serious level.”
The number of people breaching the hard curfew at night, which is imposed by the commissioner at the direction of the governor under emergency power laws, have already dropped. But CoP Byrne said this jail term would send an emphatic message about the consequences of breaking the curfew and exposing the community to risk.
“I believe that the court has sent out a very strong message this morning to the community, confirming that a breach of curfew is a serious criminal offence that will be dealt with robustly,” he said.
Byrne also revealed the details of the first warnings for prosecution given to people found breaching soft curfew (or shelter in place orders), which falls under the Public Health Law Regulations, separate from the legislation which governs the full nighttime lockdown. Attorney General Samuel Bulgin explained Friday that breaches of the soft curfew will in future be ticketed offences.
The soft curfew is causing more challenges for the police because of the number of reasons people are allowed to be out. But from Monday, the alphabetical surname split originally introduced to manage supermarket visits will now apply to all trips. The CoP said that in the daytime people were not taking the order as seriously as they should and were “taking liberties”.
On Friday morning seven people taking those liberties were warned that they will now be prosecuted. Three construction workers were warned after they were spotted by police in Bodden Town working on a site; another two people in George Town were warned when they were caught running their car washing business; and two people on the road in a car with no lawful reason, after saying they were going to see friends, were also warned that they will be prosecuted.
In all three cases the people involved were directed to immediately return to their homes.
The commissioner made the formal announcement to extend the hard curfew from this evening (Friday 3 April) for another fourteen days until 17 April, and to introduce the full 24-hour lockdown for this and next Sunday. That means that the hard curfew that begins on Saturday evening at 7pm will continue until 5am Monday.
Meanwhile, the ‘shelter in place’ regulations for the daytime covering the name split were also detailed and confirmed by the attorney general.
See a summary of the Regulations, as read at the press briefing by AG Sam Bulgin, in the CNS Library.
See the full press brief on CIGTV below:
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Category: Crime, Health, Medical Health, Police
The biggest issue is: What will Cayman do in the future because the cruise ships aren’t coming back for a long long long time? With no revenue coming in from tourism, Cayman is going to be drastically different. Everyone should get ready for profound unpleasant changes. We should all realize we are now in a recession and plan accordingly.
No one is going to be spending savings on a cruise when they have no jobs back in their home countries, they are retired and have limited resources, or, they are afraid of getting infected and fall ill on a ship.
The Cayman authorities, health care workers, police and those who continue to supply us with services, food, water, electricity, etc. are all doing an admirable, heroic job during this chaos. I commend them for their vigilance and dedication.
The blame for all of this lies with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). They are responsible for unleashing this upon the world. They also withheld vital information that could have prevented or lessened the economic damage and human suffering.
Don’t blame Prime Ministers, Presidents, whiny buttercups or deplorables because they have nothing to do with the cause of this misery.
Real problems haven’t even started here. German Minister of finance knew what is coming and with all his brilliance, expertise and experience could not see how he and the country would be able to solve it.
Even Trump, who I can’t stand, sees that.
Trump is going to save you
The penalties aren’t enough of a deterrent. If it’s a business withdraw it’s trade and business license, if it’s an expat individual deport them, if it’s a local/status/PR put them in prison.
Better idea, why don’t you burn their businesses down with a flamethrower, and the ones next to them to serve as an example?
I have just heard we are not allowed to swim or go in the sea as a form of exercise. This is our main form of exercise and is not only good for the body but for mental well-being as well. Why is swimming not allowed? It is unbelievable to me the comments the Premier made about the fact Liquor stores will remain open because the Government can’t make decisions for people whether they want to drink or not, but the Government are ok to decide that people can’t swim! Drinking is far more unhealthy and there is far more risk of catching the virus by going to the liquor store, than for people isolating themselves by swimming in the ocean to keep themselves healthy!
5:26 in total agreement. It will be an utter disaster for them to stop people swimming o the beaches. Why is running ok but not swimming?
CNS: swimming in sea still OK but not snorkelling or any other watersports.
CNS it is very confusing. The commissioner said no in water activity so many of us are very unsure.. I wish they would be a bit more consistent with their answers. They only confuse the public.
They are confused themselves
You’re right and it’s probably overkill but we’ve all got to put up with some inconveniences for a while. Do some pushups.
Yup, and a lone pool person who has zero contact with my family can’t clean the pool so I can swim every day like my doctor told me to. I’m pregnant. Way to go Alden.
CNS, how or where can I send you a question to ask at the daily press briefing?
CNS: covid-questions@caymannewsservice.com
We can’t promise to answer them all though.
Police Commissioner- Always watch to hear that Irish accent – gave comfort in Ireland and UK when told them he Irish and ‘crackin the whip’ he got it under control! Thank you to your guys!
Can I cut the bush in my yard on Sunday’s. I’m hearing reports of police stopping owners of property doing that?
You can as long as you don’t step foot off your property. They can stop people using their back gardens.
If your bush is overgrowing then I suggest go ahead and cut that thing! No-one likes an overgrown bush. We ain’t living in the 70’s anymore!
These $500 fines are laughable pin pricks to many selfish big shots who routinely pop corks from bottles out of their private cellars at triple that tag. Fines should be a scale calibrated to household or business income to sink home. Still seeing mobile car wash trucks, landscapers and a/c servicemen…
Cant afford to pay the fine don’t be out doing stupid S#%t. These fines aren’t supposed to be based on peoples income they are supposed to be so expensive that it is a deterrent. What an utterly stupid comment.
No one is going to be willing to pay $500 to go for a walk, which is about all you can do since everything is closed.
2:14 you wont be fined for a walk. We are still allocated 90 minutes for exercise
The Cubans must really be feeling at home these days
Thank you for finally enforcing a law. We all need this to be safe from those who follow no laws. Keep up the great work and continued presence on the roads.
It took a PANDEMIC to get CAYMANIANS to enforce laws.
Mounting unemployment, domestic violence and burgeoning mental health issues could be widespread if the normal functioning of society remains paralyzed.
OMG, panic much?
It’s happening. Soon to be out of control if things don’t return to “normal”.
And will kill far more people thank Covid-19 ever could.
Well done Commissioner!! If their thieving won’t jail them this certainly will!! They need to see what’s going on in the UK. The amount of deaths on a daily basis is increasing by the hour!
It’s frightening!
Lock them up!
Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself.” And then, in one simple phrase, “He loved Big Brother.”
All work permit holders who are not working must be sent back to there home countries, then we can deal with our residents. By delaying all that is happening is more suffering and stretching our already overworked resources.
All Caymanians that arn’t working and never did should be sent to China.They are why our resources are overworked. Expats are useful and pay their way.
Disgusting M F Go Home You are an abomination to the universe The world can do without you
Hey Genius, How do you propose sending them back to their home countries?
Airplanes?
Will Govt. refund the unused portion of the Work Permit Fee? Not.
They do if a) the employer has cancelled the work permit & b) it’s within the 1st 6 months of the permit’s approval date. Onus on the employer.
Caymankind at its best.
Yes…..any expat that is unemployed, and will be for the foreseeable future, should be MADE to go back to their homeland as soon as possible. Should not be optional. If they can’t afford the return flight, then their work permit holders should pay.
It obviously needs to go back to the days of all expats having to have a ticket home before they’re allowed to land here.
Good to see xenophobia and selfishness still trumps community spirit for some fine people here. And it’s “their” not “there”.
The court gave that curfew breaker a slap on the wrist he broke the nighttime curfew which carries max fine of $3,000 and a year in jail, plus he had other offenses too and they gave him four months. No wonder people aren’t following curfew with this economy where people are without food or a job prison sounds like three meals a day
Not to mention he probably had a criminal record already so it’s not like adding breach of curfew will hurt his employability.
He is to be charged for the other offenses at a later date I’m told.
Why don’t all the petty criminals get this treatment? Stop the revolving goor.
Can CNS or anyone hear give me a definite answer to the 90 mins allocated exercise question? So I see we are still allowed our allocated 90 mins of exercise even on days that don’t fall under our last name initial. Are we still allowed to drive to the beach for running walking or swimming? I get most of my cardio through swimming (and don’t have the good fortune to living directly on the beach) so I am really hoping that we are still allowed to use the beaches throughout the week (with the exception of Sunday of course). I want this confirmed as I don’t want to be slapped with a $500+ fine….
CNS: When we asked the question, the premier gave a long-winded answer which sort of said yes but definitely didn’t say no.
Hey snowflake, find another source of exercise every other day and stop wasting the police’s time. It’s people like you who feel so entitled that are causing the problems on the road. Get a grip.
10:04 Im not entitled you arrogant ass. Im just trying to clarify whether I can go to the beach or not. If it isnt allowed I wont go – simple as that! If the government say I can use the beach then by hell Im going to use the beach for the purposes allowed. I’m not the one causing the police more work. Its the idiots who are going out visiting their friends and families or just driving around for no reason past curfew who are. Keep your miserable comments to yourself.
Ego trip?
are you too lazy to write a full sentence?
He stated today no swimming. Bit sad, but that’s what he said.
10:04 why be so aggressive and nasty? They were just asking a question. No need to be a d%@k
Says another snowflake
Calling someone else out on being rude hasn’t got anything to do with being a snowflake. You stupid or something? You proven yourself to be a rude ass. Could do with less of you on the planet. Do us a favor and don’t breed.
Canadiens
8:55pm
He was very clear – yes!
Walk to the beach the extra exercise will do you good. No beach is too far away in Cayman. Just keep off the roads.
yawn… cars on the road are not the problem…
I exercise in my pool. Oh wait.. apparently a dude who works by himself and has zero contact with clients aren’t allowed. My doctor recommended that I swim every day while pregnant. I won’t risk leaving the house so I can’t swim anywhere else. Great plan, Alden.
A pregnant dude? I think you might have bigger things to be thinking about.
Remove the jail penalty, increase the fine. The government will need the influx of cash in the coming months. Why have the public to pay for more prisoners when a significant cash boost is needed? Why not make the best of the curfew opportunity and boost the coffers?
Those who are out and about have no money. Those with money watching Netflix, their fridges and pantries are full.
Because if it’s just a fine I’ll gladly pay it – if it means jail, I’m happy to stay inside.
Petty thieves out to steal have money to pay stiffer fines?
Excellent news! Glad the police are taking the hard line with these fools who break the rules! The fines can be used towards the cost of the test kits and ventilators. Make the stupid and thoughtless pay. Might make them think twice.
Good
Dah wah yuh get.
À previous cns story said a burglar was confronted on South Church street Gt by the home occupants at 730pm. The suspect who was from west bay was later arrested. What sense is the curfew if people can come from west bay to gt without being stopped by the police in the hard curfew. Please set up road blocks at the yacht club round a-bout to ensure criminals are not moving from GT to West Bay and vis versa. Come on
rcips.
They have many roadblocks, as well as many mobile patrols. You’re an actual idiot if you breach the curfew, more so if you think it’s a good idea to commit crime too.
Clearly if he’s breaking the law by breaking & entering he’s not concerned about being back in WB by the time the curfew starts at 7pm. Road blocks won’t stop that, will it?
criminal genius…. breaking into people’s homes when there is a 100% chance they’ll be home.
Why Premier, Governor and Minister not sitting 6 feet apart?
Lock them up!
Guys have no money trying to make a dime.
More like taking a dime.
“make a dime..” … because stealing is an occupation?? It’s not making money by providing g a service or adding value, it’s taking someone else’s stuff.
Agreed. Small time jobs are the way to go.