The police in Dominica are warning that they will be taking a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to those who break the law during Carnival.
The official opening of the season is carded for Saturday and Superindendent of Police Ainsworth Irish is appealing to the public to ensure that all events go smoothly. “The public is advised to cooperate fully with the police to ensure the smooth running of the opening of Carnival,” Irish said.
He said under no circumstances should traffic signs installed by the police, be removed .
He warned that anyone arrested during Carnival will be sent to prison. “We are saying anyone who is arrested during the event of Carnival, we will seek to have them remanded, to be put away, to ensure that there is no problems or any sort of difficulties,” he noted.
The police have also outlined a new set of rules for the opening parade and Carnival days, which according to Inspector Richmond Valentine, must be “strictly adhered too.”
He said everyone dressed in sen-say costumes should carry an ID number, the height limit for the trucks at Carnival must be 14 feet with the base of the truck to the last speaker not exceeding 14 feet and no more than 10 persons are allowed on speakers during the parade.
Valentine said any truck that violate the rules will be immediately removed from the parade.
“The road is wide enough and the route is long enough for persons to jump and dance but for some reason, people prefer to jump and dance on the top of those trucks, there is also a limit to that,” he said.
The opening parade begins on Victoria Street to King George the Fifth Street, then onto Great George Street to Carnival City at the Pottersville Savannah.
So as not to disturb any services at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, DJs on trucks were told that all music should be stopped when the vehicle enters the intersection of Dover Lane and E.O. LeBlanc Highway.
Valentine made it clear that the carrying of offensive weapons is strictly prohibited and the police will be swift in preventing this from happening. “For those persons who use days like these or activities like these to settle scores with their opponents that will not be tolerated,” he warned. “If you intend to come to sewo, come to sewo, leave the weapons at your homes, do not travel with them.”
every year is the same zero tolerance and that is what the troublesome guys out there know. the police work hard and at the courts is a different story. there should be a special law for any offence under the carnival and during the carnival should be straight to jail for five years minimum. THAT MAXILUN WORD SHOULD BE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH THE WORD MINIMUM.
Long overdue! My elderly relative was stabbed one year selling goods in her shop. Anyone committing a crime in a sen-say costume is a coward. Behave.
It’s wayyy overdue with the trucks. It was about time the authorities put some restrictions on the “big trucks.” We don’t have to wait until a tragedy to act.
For a safe and peaceful carnival all trouble markers should stay home lets others enjoy themselves.
fully agree with zero tolerence. shame that peeing up the side roads and in the gutters was not included. carnival is about fun, lets keep it that way. and wouldn’t it be nice if a cruise ship is in and the tourist goes away saying what a good time they had and how clean Roseau is.
what time is the opening tomorrow? Admin?
midnight
they should e remaned till Ash Wednesday.
THEY SHOULD BE SENT TO JAIL FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS. and that first offender thing should be stopped.
so what if i jamming wit my ting and a pardna wana cause me trouble?
I hope the “my thing” you talk about there is not your woman/girlfriend? How can you refer to her as “thing” show some respect, you obviously don’t know the difference between human beings and things….. SMH
cannot be said again
i am 100% for the idea of sending all who arrested to PRISON.
we also have to add that any vendor found selling alcohol to minors will be arrested also. Greaaaaaaaaaat ideasssssssssssssssssss. thumps up!
People repect the rules be happy and be merry. Have a safe, peaceful and wonderful carnival
yeah boi i want to enjoy my sewo peacefully i dont want to be docking n running from people in the band that fighting n have any weapons
:p
I’M CONFUSED. NOT SURE IF ITIS AN ERROR. IS IT THE ST. ALPHONSUS CATHOLIC OR A SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH. BECAUSE CATHOLIC HAS SERVICE ON SUNDAYS AND NOT SATURDAYS
there is service on saturday night for persons who can’t make it on sunday.. don’t act ignorant
And pleeeeease, for once don’t pee in the streets!
you want people to go home and pee pee?
all you hear how much warning they give, people please respect the rules and come out and have some clean sewo for 2013 val!!!
***I TOTALLY AGREE***
Carnival is a time for enjoyment!! NOT for trouble makers!!
Enjoy the people of Dominica have a safe and peaceful carnival for 2013