“The Emergency Powers Act do provide for penalties to those who would be in breach of the Emergency Powers Regulations and indeed it provides for a fine not exceeding $5000 or a term of imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both and to forfeiture of any good or money in respect of which the offence has been committed,” said Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, while responding to a caller’s question during Tuesday’s (March 31) edition of ‘Leadership Matters’, a virtual forum on ZIZ TV.
“So, we have three categories, a fine of $5000, you could also be fined and sentenced to jail and additionally, any of these three can go together – a fine, a term of imprisonment or the forfeiture of goods or money…,” he said.
Prime Minister Harris said that persons should avoid breaking the law. He noted, that once persons do what they are asked and stay indoors, this would benefit everyone.
“We are hoping that we wouldn’t have to go there. If everyone acts sensibly and responsibly, we can overcome this particular pandemic and we can do so without any significant losses of life in St. Kitts and Nevis, which is what we really want. To prevent any significant loss of life is where we are at now,” said Prime Minister Harris.
Dr. Harris encouraged persons to respect the law and continue to remain at home.
“And that is why through the Emergency Powers Act, we have sought to impose the discipline upon people of staying at home. Stay at home unless there is an overriding or compelling reason for you to want to leave your house,” he said. “And that is why we have identified a limited category of persons largely described as essential workers who will be out there helping and fighting to keep us safe and we want them to be free enough to be able to go about doing their work unencumbered by other persons as it were…,” the national security minister added.
As it stands, since the SRO 9 of 2020 (The New Regulations), Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No. 2) Regulations, 2020 took effect on March 31 at 7:00 pm no one, except the Security Forces and other Security Personnel, the Health Care Officers, Technical Emergency Officers of Utilities including Telecoms, and Media Personnel, will be allowed out of their residences.
