Roadblocks are not a COVID-19 measure and are not based on a stay at home order, National Security Minister Stuart Young said on  Wednesday morning the day after activist Ravi Balgobin-Maharaj signalled his intention to file a constitutional claim against the State challenging the authority of the police to enforce the government’s stay at home policies. The activist who says he was stopped on three occasions by the police whom he said are not carrying actions based in law. He also referenced statements by the Police Commissioner which implied that he is enforcing the stay at home policies.

But the National Security Minister, who said the Attorney General Faris al Rawi has already responded to the pre-action protocol letter from Balgobin-Maharaj, is insisting that the police have the power to set up roadblocks at any time.“Crime and criminality continue,” Young said as he thanked the police for being on the fronton to protect the population. At the same time, Young referenced persons who have created loopholes to continue running their non-essential businesses,  contrary to the public health ordinance.“People are using loopholes like putting bread in front of their shops and claiming to sell food and some even putting mops and brooms upfront. These attempts make life more difficult,”  the Minister of National Security said.

Only yesterday, top cop Gary Griffith, in a statement in the late afternoon said “If what I do provides a deterrent to save lives, I would so do. It is not my responsibility to make popular decisions. It is my responsibility to make decisions to preserve lives whilst not affecting constitutional rights. What some see as a problem, I see as a solution.”