Fined for breaching COVID-19 directive

Fifty-year-old Douglas Anthony Aurelien gave a magistrate “a reasonable” excuse for breaching a COVID-19 directive but his explanation for flouting another was not acceptable.

The Station Hill, St Michael resident pleaded guilty to contravening Paragraph (4) of the Emergency (COVID-19) (CURFEW) (NO.4) Directive on February 23.

“I went outside yes but I had a reasonable excuse,” Aurelien told Magistrate Elwood Watts in the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court today.

“I went to the policeman Cadogan. I wanted to find out why they came by my house and another one charged me. I didn’t know the police called back-up,” he said.

Watts informed him that he couldn’t accept the plea as he had a defence.

But Aurelien stated “I don’t want to prolong the court. I don’t want to see the court again.”

He then also entered a guilty plea to breaching the directive by failing to wear a face mask, face shield or face covering while at Glendairy Gap, Station Hill, St Michael on the same day.

“I had the mask but I was smoking a cigarette. When the police came, I did not have on the mask, I ain’t about wasting time,” he stated.

Aurelien who is known to the court, also admitted to dishonestly using water without authority from the Barbados Water Authority.

Station Sergeant St Clair Phillips said police went to Aurelien’s residence to execute a search warrant when they discovered the illegal water connection. Personnel from the BWA were summoned and stated that the connection to his house had been disconnected for some time. He was not at home at the time and lawmen saw him on Glendairy Hill without his mask.

Given his means, the magistrate ordered that he pay a fine of $250 on or before March 2 or spend 30 days in prison. For the illegal water connection, he must pay a fine of $300 on or before March 2 or spend 14 days at Dodds.

For being outdoors without a reasonable excuse he was reprimanded and discharged.