St. Ann Residents Defy COVID-19 Protocols

St Ann residents defy COVID-19 protocols; the police continue to face difficulties in getting citizens to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols. Reports from the police are that unruly party-goers vandalized a police vehicle in the Parry Town community, St. Ann on Saturday, September 26. 

The constabulary’s forensic investigators are currently utilizing science and technology to help determine who may have been involved in the malicious destruction of police property. 

According to police reports, at about 9:30pm, a police team was on patrol in the community when they observed a party in breach of the disaster risk management and noise abatement acts. The officers parked their service vehicle along the main road and proceeded on foot to the venue.

They ordered that the music be turned off, warned the patrons and instructed them to leave.  A man who was later identified as the promoter of the event ignored the order.  When the police attempted to arrest him, he ran to a nearby yard, where the police team proceeded to take him into custody.

The police say, while the promoter was being arrested, a group of angry patrons who were leaving the event descended upon the police vehicle, hurl stones and other missiles into the windscreen and other windows.

People’s National Party (PNP) Councillor for the Beecher Town Division, St Ann Ian Bell says he’s very disappointed with the blatant disregard for the law by the residents of parry town. 

He asserts that the unruly behaviour being displayed by citizens amid the pandemic must not be tolerated. 

The promoter of the party, 31-year old Rashant Lawrence has been charged with breaching the disaster risk management act and resisting arrest.

The police is reminding citizens that the constabulary’s enforcement of the orders under the disaster risk management act is for their safety,  given the potential for the rapid spread of the virus at these large gatherings. 

Also, the St Ann police are asking persons who may have any information that might assist in their investigation, to come forward or call 119 or crime stop at 311.