Grenada officials using video recordings to detain COVID violators

Health and national security officials are reportedly reviewing videos posted on various social media platforms showing people participating in carnival-style activities in contravention of the existing regulations put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Thursday, 22nd July 2021

Grenada: Health and national security officials are reportedly reviewing videos posted on various social media platforms showing people participating in carnival-style activities in contravention of the existing regulations put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). “I want to clearly state, because I have heard some individuals saying that the Ministry of Health or the Royal Grenada Police Force have granted permission for some of those activities, that is not the case,” Health Minister Nickolas Steele noted. “We have all seen the rise in activities over the weekends of individuals taking it upon themselves to defy the regulations, to defy law enforcement and to come out and play jab,” Steele said at the weekly post-cabinet briefing, reminding reporters that the government had taken a decision to cancel carnival celebrations this year. Grenada is presently under a state of emergency because of COVID-19, with both the Emergency Powers Regulations and the Public Health Regulations are enforced. Though Grenada has cancelled the 2021 Carnival celebrations, which traditionally concludes in August, over the last few weekends, several people have defied the existing regulations to participate in the activities known here as “Jab, Jab”. Many videos have been posted on social media platforms, including 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 organizing events without permission,” said a Ministry of National Security official. As per the regulations, persons can face fines ranging from EC$350 to the highest of EC$1000. Grenada has registered one death ad 161 cases of the virus since March last year. Grenada is a Caribbean nation comprising a main island, also called Grenada, and smaller surrounding islands. It’s also the site of the capital, St. George’s, whose colourful homes, Georgian structures and early-18th-century Fort George overlook narrow Carenage Harbour.