Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Superintendent, Davidson Valerie, said no changes have been made as it relates to the curfew order which was extended by the Dominica parliament on Monday 6th April 2020.
According to Attorney General, Levi Peter, the ‘Emergency Powers Amendment Act 2020’ extends the country’s curfew for another 21 days after April 20th.
A resolution was also approved by the House of assembly which provides for an extension of the state of public health emergency for a period of three months to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“It means that the current curfew order which expires on the 20th of April extends that by a further 21 days,” Peter said, in an interview with State-owned DBS Radio. “Everything will remain the same unless there is a further order either revoking it which could happen. So, for example, if the crisis situation becomes less critical, it may be that a decision will be made revoking the curfew and or the state of emergency.”
Peter said those steps were taken to provide the latitude to the health authorities and others to be able to hopefully get the COVID-19 situation under control.
Meantime Superintendent Davidson Valerie reminded the public of the measures which will remain in place for the extended curfew period.
“No person shall be in a public place between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Monday to Friday weekly; no person shall be in a public place between the hours of 6:00 p.m. on Thursday 9th April 2020 and 6 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14th 2020,” Valerie stated.
He said no persons are allowed to be out in public on weekends between the hours of 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 6 a.m. on Monday.
He continued, “ You will be permitted to be in a public place on Monday to Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. to provide, or access, an essential service or other services regulated to operate by law.”
All banks, credit unions, money services, supermarkets and petrol stations must be closed at 2 p.m. and all pharmacies must be closed at 4:00 p.m., according to the CID boss. “All bars must remain closed, no sale of alcohol or advertising of sale from April 1st to April 14th 2020.”
He also made it clear that no salons, barbershops, gifts shops or other non-essential businesses will be permitted to open.
Furthermore, roadside vending will not be allowed and no more than one person per row will be allowed to travel on a public service vehicle.
The curfew period will last until the 11th of May, if not revoked.
Meantime, Valerie has sent a stern warning to residents and citizens about loitering on the streets.
“Residents and citizens of Dominica, you shall return to your homes on completion of your business. You are not permitted to loiter on the streets,” he warned.
Valerie encouraged everyone to observe social distancing guidelines and follow the advice of the health professionals.
“You will be required to stand 6 feet apart from each other,” he noted.
He said anyone who fails to comply with these regulations shall be dealt with according to law.
Brief video clip of a drive through Mahaut by an individual authorized to be out during the curfew.
Mr. Superintendent up to a day like today your officers don’t have a COVID19 protocol. The standard or gold standard are the PPE. How could your SSU be the first line of response. Your me. Still working elongated hours and don’t you know stress is an underlying condition for this virus. I challenge you to make use of the resources in your force to develop much needed protocols at this time. The police are still operating will little to no PPEs. Man the state of emergency should not be to bullrage the people but to adhear to ever Human Rights law. Please allow your officer to prepare a national security plan so if this thing last till December you will be covered. Utilize the PWA I suggest the VP administratively so he can use his qualifications to make the heads shine
BATIBOU,you are not a Dominican.What MOU are you talking about?I guess it is not the one for (1) NEW GRAMMAR SCHOOL (2)E O LEBLANC HIGHWAY (3)WINDSOR PARK STADIUM(4)NEW HOSPITAL.The CBI you seem to forget PRICEWATERHOUSE COOPERS was in Dominica.Now tell ,and show us what your party did with the REENGINEERED CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMME MONEY I know for a FACT a house was built at BELFAST(BOUGEOIS CITY) in the sum of $ 2,500,000 ask BWA BANDAY he know alot about Mahaut.We are concentrating on COVID-19 not the BS you coming up with.18-3 POWER TO THE PEOPLE.
Clown, if you believe for only one second that I respond to your mental diarrhoea, think again. You are sick in your head and you know it!
Honestly,these comments are not call for. Some person or persons unknown try to produce gas and the gas escaped all over the world,you cannot see it or feel it. The first safety is to yourself and the people.the virus could be any where.by the time you go and change and come back to warn the people it might be too late.the most exposed part of your body is the hand,it handled and touches everything,wash it so as to prevent it from transferring it to your lungs.it is very contagious so keep your distance for your own good.
Steve, apparently we Dcans still don’t understand that “policing is a local thing” and the use of military green by the police is ok when worn for the right occasion. Every officer in the CDPF must have a set of that uniform because we don’t have an army and therefore the police is also charged with performing duties that soldiers would generally do(Defensive). So let us STOP majoring on the MINORS and focus on what matters, when , where , why and how. For instance, the standard police issued uniform is not suitable during disaster response and bush patrols.
Even night patrols poses a risk to the officers because of all the “silvery” bling on the standard uniform that shines/ reflects. So, STOP bashing the police for wearing military uniform and ask for proper protocols to be followed as to when it should be worn. And yes, politics aside we do have a miltarized police force whether we like it or not.
We have to have a militarised police Force?? What for? To provide protection for Skerrit, to use on citizens when they protest, to arrest members of the opposition, etc. ? I tell you, DA doesn’t have a proper police force anymore but rather a bunch of para militia commanded directly by that little irrelevant double doctor.
Bro read my comment. NOTHING WRONG with the green uniform….tonneh! The issue surrounds when it should be used. I agree we no longer have a real police force just like we no longer have a real country but that is besides the point. There is a need for the green / BDU’s its just the wearing PROTOCOL that has to be clarified…SMDH
Nothing I said should be misconstrued as “bashing the police”.
@Bwa-Banday, for once I agree with you.
Has anyone stopped to think how ridiculous this is.. understood that 2 months ago not enough info was available to make a rational decision so most countries started banning foreignors while DOminica continued to welcome them.. now, the world is gearing to “re-open” and this country declares extended curfuews.. these guys need some facts and enough with the emotional greed / fere responses. embarrassing
@Seeing the Truth, “the World is starting to open where? 3 weeks ago I went into our City Shopping Mall in Toronto, some of the stores were closed but there were still a few places who kept their doors open–including some food places. People were going in and out of the grocery stores independently.
1 week later the Mall remained open but all stores were shut down, including the Lottery Stands Only the bank inside the Mall remained open–but there was control to get in. The line-up to enter the Grocery store is non-ending and we cannot stand closer than 6 feet from the other person–the cashiers are caged with glass windows–just a tiny opening to give them payments and to receive out change. That situation is all over in my neighborhood and in Toronto for that matter–up to the last time I was out which was Thursday, April 09
“The world is gearing to “re-open”, you say! Which world are you speaking of?
@Batibou River, why do not you and Francisco shut your mouths and stop playing politics. If Skerrit had been the one instead of Valerie, you would have said, shut up Skerrit and let the police do their job. Stop that hatred. Lennox will never be the PM of Dominica, not on this earth and not on the next one. All you and Francisco do is talk crap and you all have done nothing to alleviate the covid situation back home. ALL the millionaires and billionaires in America are donating money to hospitals and health centers in America. Francisco boasted he is a millionaire and how much has he donated to the hospitals in Dominica? Nothing. He is a millionaire my foot. People who are millionaires do not say they are millionaires. Francisco is no millionaire but ….. Both of you two are full of nonsense. Skerrit just has to ignore you both. Thank God and Skerrit nobody has passed away in Dominica due to covid-19.
…., I told you before DA hasn’t go no police force anymore. Dominica has a militia paid for by the state but commanded by Skerrit. You are a very sad individual that sees fit to constantly apologise for an utterly corrupt and incompetent man that calls himself PM of DA. However, since you know it all, why is your master refusing to account for missing CBI and PetroCaribe monies? Why hasn’t he told us the true circumstances why Ross left Dominica? Why isn’t he showing us the MOU with China? You want me to continue? Come on let’s hear it!!!
As others have indicated here, it is somewhat foreboding that the policeman delivering this message is dressed in military fatigues. It begs the question: Has this State of Emergency been declared in order to combat things other than Covid 19?
That point is lost on most Dominicans who have sleep walked into a police state of their own making and so, the boys will revel in their playings of soldiers, without really having to face the perils of being a soldier.
NAC VIBES,we were trained with the NIGHT VISION GOGGLES,SCOPED 7.62 CALIBRE SNIPERS RIFLE,M16 5.56 CALIBRE RIFLES,M60 7.62 CALIBRE FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN,45 calibre HAND GUNS.We have used the 7.62 calibre AK47and both the American and Korean HAND GRENADES.We too have used the RUSSIAN MC,AROVE hand gun.We were trained in HEAVY JUNGLE WARFARE by both Americans and Jamaicans.Ask your BOSS,NICHOLAS GEORGE.What more should it take for a DOMINICAN POLICEMAN TO BE A TRAINED SOLDIER?I respect DNO policy,but you Viewsexpressed,dissident,Telemaque are uninformed and will always be uninformed JACK A’S.LEAVE THE POLICE ALONE.
Your so-called police force can only intimidate defenceless civilians and opposition politicians. Let me tell you something, if I was to come to Dominica with only 20 of my army friends, we would sent the entire DA police force including Skerrit and his Ministers for a bath in the Caribbean Sea. You and Skerrit better not forget that because that day will certainly come the way things are going in DA right now.
“No person shall be in a public place between the hours of 6:00 p.m. on Thursday 9th April 2020 and 6 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14th, 2020,” Valerie stated.
While you people are busy braying against Police Amor, you all have failed to notice what is important in this message to take heed of.
Have you all realized that this Corvid-19 issue started to evolve vehemently, right after Ash Wednesday? Today is supposed to be Holy Thursday, according to the calendar of some Christian Churches of the World, such as the dominating Roman Catholic Church. Most Churches were locked down for Palm Sunday.
It is so for sure, in Dominica, from 6 pm tonight right into 6 am Tuesday; this means that all observation from Friday to Monday–regarding Lent will be canceled.
So if this practice was about God, as those Churches claim to be observing the Passion of Jesus; celebrating His resurrection, why would He allow Corvid-19 to interfere with such observations?
Come, my people, enter your chambers,
And shut your doors behind you;
Hide your self, as it were, for a little moment,
Until the indignation is past.
For behold, the Lord comes out of His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
The earth will also disclose her blood,
And will no more cover her slain. @Isaiah 26: 20-21
That message above, coincide with the date that PM Skerrit called for a curfew on March 26, 2020. It is not a coincident because I know that God is working for the sake of Life in our people through PM Skerrit and his governing body.
Take note that Isaiah said the same thing to the people of Israel: “Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you” Why? Because God has a plan at verse 21, He wants to make sure that His people’s lives will be saved.
But is His people in Dominica taking heed? Not at all! The police armor is more important to them–how much more carnal can people be?
Ok it is a state of emergency. Doesn’t Dominican law/constitution state that the president is in control of the country during a state of emergency, or is it another Maria when our boy Skerrit just does what he wants and ignores the law
Watch them as they start to extend, and extend their “state of emergency”. Before you know it, the curfew will be here all the time, and the no more than 5-10 people assembling publicly will be the norm. DOMINICANS, watch them. Make sure we let them know that the rights that we have loaned to them, must be given back. Remember, at this present moment, we are still a democracy, let’s keep it that way.
Where is the Police public relations officer Mr Simon Labadie ( ag A.S.P).
Is it only where something wrong he can report or heard. As far as I know a P.R.O suppose to be the frontline personel to inform and get information from the press and public.
Need to hear the P.R.O not Valerie. He is the man to deliver police news to the public.
Residents and citizens of Dominica, you shall return to your homes on completion of your business. You are not permitted to loiter on the streets,” he warned.
Lol big kix police passing what they gonna do pff, they just running back in their hole
Welcome to the North Korea of the Caribbean where a ‘police man’ in camouflage suit addresses the citizens regarding state of emergency and curfew. In any western democracy this would be done by either the head of state or the head of government. But Skerrit is afraid he would loose support so he orders one of his militia to do the dirty work for him. What a coward.
STEVE,what is a proper uniform?When we went to GRENADA the AMERICANS did not give us your so called PROPER UNIFORM.When we were trained by the 7th SPECIAL FORCES 82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION from FORT BRAGG,NORTH CAROLINA,we were not given your so called proper uniform.There are several sections in the FORCE that are PAID,not to WEAR black and grey.DRUG SQUAD,SSU,CID,SPECIAL BRANCH,are some of those paid not to wear BLACK and WHITE.The POLICE FORCE is both POLICE and BATTLE FATIGUES PERSONELL.
Hog wash, this is not the occasion for such uniform.
Ton Ton Macoute and the mongosse gang is very much alive and kicking. Seems like Dominica have a full fledged millitary. Every time people open their mouth with discontent there is a heavy handed intimidation approach. Yes the curfew should and must be respected and the proclamation of what we should and shouldn’t do should be made by the head of state and person who signed. Seems like we have transitioned into a military state. The rules of curfew is not the responsibility of the police it is by the people, through the parliament, Authorized by President, and enforced by the police. In short the rules of curfew is set by the people. This police talking like he just wrote on his break. The president should be the one admonishing police to enforce without fair or favour on behalf of the people.
So What has happened to the regular police uniform? Why are they always appearing in paramilitary camouflage combat gear these days. It may seem a trivial point but the regular uniform projects an image of ‘policing by consent’ which is much more reassuring. While we’re on this .. why do police women still wear skirts in 2020? a Bit nonsensical to me
I’d rather this fellow took off the fatigues and wore a proper uniform. I understand the point of the curfew as an extreme measure during a public health emergency, fair enough, but the police service is not supposed to be a military occupation.
Stupes. So this is not a proper uniform? People need to understand that this is no joking matter so if wearing fatigues demonstrates the severity of the situation then so be it. Why must this be politicized?
To Skerrit this is all the same. For 10 years now, Dominica has not had an operational police force but rather a private militia which is under the direct command of the dictator. Crime prevention and crime solving = ZERO.
I never understood why police men have jungle fatigues in Roseau, is it a form of intimidation or power play or just the plain usual Dominican stupidity.
You know not what you speak of..,…… Dominica don’t have a defense force so they are paramilitary!!! Nonetheless this pic is an old pic years ago DNO choose to use that pic to portray the message blame DNO