Police warned 40 people for prosecution on Sunday after they were found in breach of Cayman’s hard curfew.
Police Commissioner Derek Byrne shared the information in a video statement Sunday afternoon, saying that the individuals were out and about earlier in the day. Under penalties set out for breaches of curfew, each violation comes with a $3,000 fine.
“There is no approved exercise period today as we are in hard curfew, and … so far this morning, 40 persons have been intercepted by police patrols out of their homes on public roads in breach of hard curfew. [They used] the excuse that they [were] out exercising. All of these persons have been warned for prosecution,” he said in the statement.
In addition, on Saturday night, in consultation with Governor Martyn Roper, Byrne issued a curfew order prohibiting access to any public beach or coastline across the Cayman Islands during any period of the Easter Monday public holiday.
There is to be no swimming, snorkelling, fishing, exercising or any activity on the beach or along the coastline during these times. Private owners with beach access are not allowed below the high-water mark.
Referring to that restriction as effectively a “hard curfew”, the police commissioner clarified the order was a “full lockdown of all public beaches across the Cayman Islands”.
Byrne explained that all beaches, including the coastline, will remain closed from 12:01am Monday to 5am Tuesday.
The regular soft curfew conditions, however, resume on Monday from 5am to 7pm, which allow those with the surnames A-K movement, but only for essential tasks.
For the purposes of the new curfew order, Byrne defined a public beach as the portion of the beach that ends at the high-water mark.
“This will be of particular interest to persons residing in beach-side resorts. I remind all persons that the breach of a hard curfew order is a criminal offence carrying a penalty of CI$3,000 and imprisonment for one year or both,” he said.
Byrne also said that it has been widely reported that large groups of people have been congregating within community complexes, socialising and drinking in breach of COVID-19 suppression regulations, which limit gatherings to no more than two people.
“In addition to being a criminal offence, it is also a high-risk activity at this critical time,” he said.
The commissioner said the helicopter and marine units will be on extended patrol, monitoring marine and ground activities.
Police mobile and static patrols will be in place across the islands, monitoring movements of vehicles. In addition, ATVs and foot patrols will be on duty on public beaches.
“I appeal to all of our communities to work within the requirements of the soft and hard curfews as we seek to protect lives at this critical and challenging time,” Byrne said.
The commissioner said he understood how important Easter weekend is for the community, but the confirmation of eight new COVID-19 cases Saturday “strongly articulates the dangers of the risk of community transmission” of the virus.
“This is not a normal Easter weekend for any of us. We are forced to look at the way business is conducted and how the laws are enforced to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. At the same time, we are conscious of the need for persons to attend to basic needs during this challenging period,” he said.
Cayman is currently under hard curfew until 5am Monday. This means only essential personnel are allowed out on the road. Restaurants are allowed to operate on Sunday for limited hours, but all other ‘shelter in place’ businesses are to remain closed.
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