One day after photos surfaced showing police officers leaving a fabric store, Jimmy Aboud, on Queen Street in Port of Spain, amid concern that the  Pubic Health Regulations may haven breached and yet no action was taken, top cop Gary Griffith has issued a statement. (The screenshot above from the Newsday, shows the cops leaving the store which remained opened after the visit by the police.)

And he has made it clear that unless there are amendments to the regulations, the store should be closed.

“In relation to reports of a certain clothing store on Queen Street, Port-of-Spain, which was opened up to yesterday, and based on this information being brought to the attention of the TTPS, Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, wishes to confirm that this, as well as all clothing stores, are to be closed, and remain that way unless amendments are made to the Public Health Ordinance Regulations,” the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said in a press release on Friday morning.

“The CoP again wishes to remind the public that anyone with the belief that any business is opened in breach of the Regulations, they should inform the relevant authorities by contacting 555, or by sending messages, photographs or videos to 482-GARY, or the TTPS App, upon which it would be investigated and ascertain if such a business is in breach of the Regulations and if so, would be directed to be closed.

“The Trinidad and Tobago Police  Service,(TTPS), would not show any bias or flexibility in relation to stores being opened or closed, or assembly in large groups. It would be acted upon based on the Public Health Ordinance RegulationsThis procedure would be far more productive instead of some complaining, questioning, and making accusations that some stores are being “allowed” to open, whilst similar stores selling similar products, are directed to be closed,” the TTPS said.

“The TTPS in no way would allow any form of bias towards enforcing the law and closure of any specific business, and allowing another similar business to remain open, but the relevant authorities of the TTPS cannot be everywhere, hence the request to inform the TTPS if there is the belief that anyone is breaching the Regulations, so the TTPS can act on it, Griffith said in his statement, without dealing with the fact that police officers we’re at the store, where the owner had breached regulations.

“Unfortunately, in the need for a juicy story, this was not done by the Newsday, so they saw it fit to contact the Police Commissioner to ask why a store was still opened. Newsday should note that the COP may not be aware of every store that is opened and every store that is not, and he cannot, and should not be giving an explanation every time there is a query of a store being opened or one being ordered to shut down. The Regulations are very clear, and even though it has become a policy for all to wear a cloth mask in the absence of face masks, it gives no authority for any clothing store to be open,” Griffith insisted.

And then he added a few words for the newspaper; “What can be of more value, if there is indeed a legitimate concern rather than acquiring a story, the TTPS is again asking that all concerned citizens, including Newsday, report such concerns to the relevant contacts stated above, and all can be assured that it would be investigated and such places would be closed, if in breach of the Regulations, and failure to do so, would result in charges being laid.

“Additionally, as much as it is worthy of some who are arranging to assist those in need during this period, the law cannot be broken when this effort is being achieved. This includes persons congregating in large numbers, in close proximity of each other, even whilst participating in a worthy cause. Crying and complaining about actions made by the Police would not deter the TTPS from adhering to their role and function, which is aimed at preserving life, and failure to abide by such instructions would cause the Police to take the necessary action,” the TTPS said.