Roseau, Dominica, August 7th, 2021 – On August 3rd, 2021 President Dominica, Charles Savarin, as a result of the outbreak of Covid 19 declared a State of Emergency in Dominica pursuant to section 17 (3) of the Constitution.
Also on August 3rd, 2021, under the Emergency Powers Act Chapter 15:02, the President made the Emergency Powers (Curfew) Order, 2021 which states at section 4 that:
“A curfew is hereby imposed throughout Dominica from 6:00 p.m. on the 3rd day of August 2021 to 5:00 a.m. on the 10th day of August 2021 as follows
(a) a person shall not be out in a public place between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Monday to Friday;
(b) a person shall not be out in a public place between the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday to Friday except to provide or access essential services;
(c) a person shall not be out in a public place from 5:00 p.m. on Saturday to 5:00 a.m. on Monday unless the person is an essential worker or has a written authorization from the Commissioner of Police”.
On August 6th, 2021 the Prime Minister advised the nation that: “The President has approved an amendment to the Emergency Powers Order to impose a curfew for the entire weekend. The curfew will commence at 6 pm this evening August 6th, 2021 to Monday, August 9th, 2021 at 5 am. This will be an absolute curfew”.
Unfortunately, the Prime Minister’s statement does not accurately represent the latest curfew imposition by the President as a result of which citizens may have been misled on the duration of the current lockdown period.
The actual amended section 4 says: “A curfew is hereby imposed throughout Dominica from 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday the 3rd day of August 2021 to 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday the 17th day of August 2021 as follows.
(a) a person shall not be out in a public place between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Monday to Friday;
(b) a person shall not be out in a public place between the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday to Friday;
(c) a person shall not be out in a public place between the hours of 6:00 p.m. on Friday to 5:00 a.m. on Monday.”.
6:00 pm to 5:00 am followed by 5:00 am to 6:00 pm, is a period of 24 hours. The EMERGENCY POWERS (CURFEW) (AMENDMENT) ORDER, 2021 of August 6th, 2021, therefore means that Dominica is now under an absolute 24-hour curfew until Tuesday, August 17th, 2021.
Please be guided accordingly. Find attached full statement also voice clip of UWP and opposition leader Lennox Linton and SR0 final Order.
https://natureisle.news/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/24HourLockdown-1.docx
https://natureisle.news/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AUD-20210808-WA0083.mp3
https://natureisle.news/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Final.pdf