by Linda Straker
- Grenada currently under State of Emergency because of Covid-19
- Emergency Powers Regulations and Public Health Regulations are enforced
- Several videos were posted on social media platforms
Health and National Security officials are reportedly reviewing videos posted on various social media platforms of individuals attending and participating in illegal Jab Jab mass gathering events, and will be issuing tickets to for violations of the Public Health Regulations and other Emergency Powers Regulations.
Grenada is currently under a State of Emergency because of Covid-19 and both the Emergency Powers Regulations and the Public Health Regulations are enforced. Though Grenada has cancelled 2021 carnival celebrations which traditionally concludes in August after a launch in April, during the past 2 weekends in particular, several individuals were observed participating in Jab Jab events that were not granted permission by the authorities.
Several videos were posted on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. “Law enforcement officials are now reviewing these videos that are already captured and tickets will be issued to violators. They are actually violating the Public Health Regulations which forbids the organising of events without permission,” said a Ministry of National Security official.
According to the regulations, tickets are issued using a format of EC$350 for first offence with increases to a maximum of EC$1,000 for up to 4 offences. When a ticket is issued, the violator is required to pay the fine to the State and failing to do so within the required time can result in a court appearance.
“I want to clearly state, because I have heard some individuals saying that the Ministry of Health or the Royal Grenada Police Force have given permission for some of those activities, that is not the case,” Health Minister Nickolas Steele said on Tuesday, 20 July 2021. “We have all seen the increase in activities over the weekend(s) of individuals taking it upon themselves to defy the regulations, to defy law enforcement and to come out and play jab,” Steele said during the weekly post cabinet briefing as he reminded citizens why Government took the decision to cancel carnival for 2021.
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The majority of grenadians do not wear masks. So no vaccine, no masks. What do you think will happen. In new york, no mask, no entry on the buses. Ask yourselves why. The buses in Grenada are small so it’s a quick and easy way for the virus to spread from one infected person to another. There should be a no mask no entry on buses. Consider the health of others even if you don’t care about yourself. Time for the police to start imposing the law. Time for common sense to prevail. People are looking on from outside.
There are many violates of the protocols – including a barber shop in Belmont opposite Pastor Simon’s Church operating with no business licence, no health checks and no adherence to health and safety protocols. And there is Vesprey’s shop in Belmont doing the same thing. And “Cauls” in Container Park in True Blue, that allows students in without demanding that they wear masks. And there is Garfield’s bar on Grand Anse Beach where clients are allowed to cluster without face masks….
Yet the Ministry of Health is quick to rush to close down Coconut Beach Resturant for similar violations of COVID 19 protocols. So we are living in a country with different rules for different people. What is the Ministry of Health doing about these clear violation of the very “rules they impose on (only some) of us?.
@Anansi….I agreed. The rules should apply to all and based on the percentage of Grenadians vaccinated so far I don’t see how promoters will capitalize in these events if they’re depending on that percentage so who’s going to monitor that? Fete is Fete and Jab Jab is fete of a different nature which is part of our culture. Why not mandate the jabs wear masks? I don’t think they will have a problem with that. Are they going to issue tickets to the non-vaccinated folks that will attend these event with no masks or issue a ticket to the promoter for not following the necessary protocol? Come on people…get it together. There’s more pressing issues at hand. Stop being bias and allow the people to have some fun. With the economy barely throwing, lack of employment and resources, depression and other mental issues on the rise with this pandemic I don’t see the damage. Plus it’s only for month or so…they act like this is year round.
It is inevitable that everyone will have to take the vaccine at some point.
What I find strange is that countries who have an Increase in covid cases are allowed to have events where the crowd is 60k and some as high as 140k attending.
Now our government have given some well known promoters the go ahead to hold their own events here at the end of the month stating that only vaccinated people are allowed in (Bullshit) as we neen told only some 15k Grenadians are vaccinated and I sure not even 10% of those will be attending those events so we already knows the audience who will be there.
Wow…so theyre going to issue a ticket from video footage? I thought a person had to be caught in the act to be given a ticket? Is this a law? What happen to a formal warning? If the public is being advised that permission is not given then allow them the opportunity to exercise caution. I see a pattern of dictatorial tendencies and that concerns a lot of citizens. What Covid Emergency? In the midst of Covid the ministry and powers that be have an opportunity to address the issue that put the country in that State. That should be a main focus. Where is the urgency and commitment to strengen the countrys Health system to better prepare us for any disaster, instead they’re focused on Tourism and Jab Jab…. Really? There’s more important matters to address. Promote agriculture and support our countrymen, review infrastructure around the country for development..etc.. How many pedophiles in a month? Come on rule the country..not the people.
As for the vaccine it is against human rights to manipulate or force anyone to consume or indulge in something they don’t want to do. Relatively…that’s a form of rape! To each his own. Educate instead of Mandate!
does Grenada have currently Covid Cases? Are people visiting Grenada exempt from entering the Island from 31.07.21 if not vaccinated? Do U believe in the vaccination? Not that I like carnival but you are taking away the biggest most loved fete from the majority of the Grenadian population.
Well done!
