Police shut down West End event with gathering of over 175 persons
Police were forced to shut down an event at Sebastian’s BVI in West End, Tortola after discovering that the gathering had well above the 175-person legal limit at the weekend.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) said the owners and operators of Sebastians weren’t even sanctioned to host such an event in the first place.
According to the territory’s Public Health Order 2020 (COVID-19 Control & Suppression Measures), all gatherings shall be limited to one person per 64 square feet and shall not exceed 75 persons at any given time. And if organisers of an outdoor event anticipate that their gathering will exceed 75 persons, the order says he or she must make a written request to the Minister of Health seeking permission to hold the event.
In the case of graduations, weddings and funerals, gatherings which shall be limited to one person per 64 square feet and shall not exceed 175 persons at any given time.
Meanwhile, a media release from the RVIPF said the police were only alerted to Sebastian’s overcrowded activities after receiving a noise complaint.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jacqueline Vanterpool said she was disappointed in ‘such a flagrant breach’.
“Police must enforce the orders as passed and sanctioned by government. Business owners must continue to abide by the regulations or face the full enforcement of the law,” she said.
Police has not said whether owners and operators of Sebastians would be sanctioned for flouting the COVID-19 restrictions.
According to the territory’s Public Health Order 2020 (COVID-19 Control & Suppression Measures), all gatherings shall be limited to one person per 64 square feet and shall not exceed 75 persons at any given time. And if organisers of an outdoor event anticipate that their gathering will exceed 75 persons, the order says he or she must make a written request to the Minister of Health seeking permission to hold the event.
In the case of graduations, weddings and funerals, gatherings which shall be limited to one person per 64 square feet and shall not exceed 175 persons at any given time.
Meanwhile, a media release from the RVIPF said the police were only alerted to Sebastian’s overcrowded activities after receiving a noise complaint.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jacqueline Vanterpool said she was disappointed in ‘such a flagrant breach’.
“Police must enforce the orders as passed and sanctioned by government. Business owners must continue to abide by the regulations or face the full enforcement of the law,” she said.
Police has not said whether owners and operators of Sebastians would be sanctioned for flouting the COVID-19 restrictions.
