By Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Officials describe the shutting down of a fete last weekend as a warning, to all, that violation of COVID-19 regulations will not be tolerated.
Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Mr. Abdias Samuel congratulated the COVID-19 Compliance Team on its course of action.
“Event organizers, given prior approval, failed to comply with the stipulated protocols, and therefore with the support of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis police force, the event was shut down. Again, let this be a warning to all.”
The closing of last weekend’s fete comes in the wake of an event held on Nevis on Friday, September 18.
Pictures and videos, with images of a large crowd of people, jammed into a venue, ignoring the protocols agreed on when the promoter got permission to host the event, made the rounds on social media.
Speaking at Wednesday’s NEOC briefing, Samuel reminded the public that the planned reopening of the country’s borders was just days away.
“We are doing everything to begin to normalize a way of life again in St. Kitts and Nevis. However, cooperation is needed. The compliance team visited this event and [on] several [occasions] they gave the necessary caution…They [advised] what is needed… However, the host of the event decided … To violate the terms and conditions, given to him or her, and hence the necessary actions were taken in the interests of public health and safety.”
Samuel also revealed that some business places were operating in violation of existing regulations
“Every day we see the compliance team goes out and as they go out every day, they returned with reports of the lack of compliance by a number of business places by simply not putting markings to separate persons, not even having sneeze guards, cough guards to protect the staff, and also to protect customers. We also [are] looking at not having… hand sanitization stations or even having a spray bottle to help with the hand hygiene. “
