On the heels of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s stern warning to bar owners on Saturday, that he would revoke the allowance for them to reopen, due to non-compliance to regulations, the Bar Owners Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BOATT) says it hopes blanket decision will not be taken because of an “errant few”.

In a statement on Sunday, BOATT President Teron Mohan said the Association had taken note of a recent report of two bar owners being arrested for operating their bars after hours- an action it said it fully supports. 

It is hopeful that this pointed measure will continue.

“In keeping with the penalties for breaches of The Public Health Ordinance, where a person who commits an offense is liable upon summary conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for a term of six months, we the Bar Owners Association of Trinidad and Tobago trust that the rules of fairness and equity would be utilized in ensuring that we are treated likewise as opposed to closing an entire industry for the actions of an errant few,” Mohan said.

The BOATT President added that “as a responsible Association”,  the BOATT “welcomes all assistance that is provided as we strive to work hand in hand with the relevant authorities to ensure compliance of the guidelines.”

He vowed the Association’s willingness to partner with the TTPS to ensure that “any establishment that is breaching the Rules of The Public Health Ordinance would forthwith be identified and communicated about, to ensure that we all work to keep CoVid-19 out of our Bars and Restaurants and our citizens safe and virus free, as we do our small part to “flatten the curve”.