PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government announced increased fines and penalties for persons violating an eight hour curfew as part of a state of emergency that has been used to detain nearly 800 people so far.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan told the daily news briefing that he met with President George Maxwell Richards to discuss amending the curfew because it was felt that many people had been taking the matter lightly.
He said as a result of the discussions President Richards had agreed to issue new regulations increasing both the fines and penalties.
As a result, anyone who breaks the 9 00pm to 5 am (local time) curfew will now be fined TT$3,000 (US$500) and or a term of imprisonment of six months. The previous fine had been TT$500 (US$83).
Ramlogan also said that another change to the orders would now allow for a person on summary conviction to be fined TT$5,000 (US$833) and a one year jail sentence if that person is found to be in the company of a person carrying an illegal weapon or explosives and raises the presumption that he or she may have committed, or was in the process of committing a crime.
“If you are in conspiracy or consent then you will feel the full brunt of the law,” the Attorney General told reporters adding that the young woman who had posted a video message on one of the social websites threatening the life of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar should turn herself to the police.
Ramlogan said that the authorities were now looking at the possibilities of drafting legislation that would deal with persons using the social websites, such as Facebook, to incite violence and abusive language.
He said the intention is to focus on people “who want to use the technology for criminal acts and for forming criminal gangs”.
Ramlogan said that law enforcement authorities would also be dealing with various scrap iron yards based on “credible intelligence” and had no comment to make after a reporter asked whether the yards were being used to manufacture illegal guns.
Earlier, Police Commissioner, Dwayne Gibbs said that 789 people, including 293 gang leaders and members had been detained since Prime Minister Persad Bissessar announced the nationwide curfew last Sunday.
He said over the past 24 hours, 117 people had been detained, including 26 on gang related activities and 31 for serious crime offences.
National Security Minister retired Brigadier John Sandy said that the security forces were continuing to receive “much support” from law abiding citizens and urged persons to bear with the inconveniences caused by the state of emergency.
