Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith has clarified that medical personnel employed in the various Regional Health Authorities, Customs and Excise officers, Immigration Officers, and fire officers, are members of the essential services and do not require curfew permits under the State of Emergency.

The CoP says that these persons if stopped by law enforcement officers are required to show their work identification cards.

However, he warned, work permits should not be used to justify outdoor activity that is unrelated to work.

“Law enforcement officers must be convinced that these essential workers are on their way to and from work during the curfew period and not on a frolic of their own,” Griffith said.

The police, the CoP adds, reserve the right to challenge these workers.

“Should the officer have reason to believe the holder of the relevant ID is not about work business, the officer has the right to detain such worker until he can verify whether the workers’ business is legitimate,” Griffith clarified. 

Under the current State of Emergency, both police and army officials have the authority to make arrests against anyone they presume to be breaching the Public Health Regulations.