Members of the Police Department and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee removing tree branches from a hotspot on Korthalsweg opposite Neway supermarket. The confiscated bench is in the trunk of the police truck.
Officers of the Police and the Marechaussee inspecting a hotspot near Happy City supermarket on Heyligerweg.
ST. EUSTATIUS--The Police Department in St. Eustatius is continuing with the enforcement of the Emergency Ordinance due to recent ongoing challenges officers are facing regarding the assembly of individuals in areas that are designated as hotspots for illegal gatherings.
The individuals who congregate in these so-called hotspots usually engage in heavy alcohol consumption and as time passes, they ignore every hygiene guideline, thus increasing the risk of transmission of the coronavirus, the police said.
In an ongoing collective effort between the Public Entity St. Eustatius and the Public Health Department, police officers are doing their part to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus by enforcing the guidelines regarding social distancing.
The police have given some individuals various warnings regarding congregating in these hotspots. Police are stepping up their efforts and are now issuing fines to those who are not complying with the guideline regarding social distancing as outlined in the current Emergency Ordinance.
On Wednesday, September 23, the police carried out controls on the corner of Van Pereweg and Heyligerweg, next to Happy City supermarket. Four individuals were issued fines for violating the Emergency Ordinance’s social-distancing guidelines.
The hotspot on Korthalsweg opposite Neway supermarket, where people often congregate to consume alcoholic beverages on a wooden bench under one of the trees in the area, was also inspected.
Police officers confiscated the bench on instruction of the prosecutor. Some tree branches were broken off to make the location less attractive to those who seek to continue violating the Emergency Ordinance, the police said.
