Dominica, though blessed to be relatively mildly impacted so far cannot take this for granted and must ensure that we take all precautions to safeguard the health, well- being and lives of all our people. Sadly, some of our people have not heeded the calls for cooperation and the exercise of personal and collective responsibility and have been failing and/or refusing to adhere to the guidelines, protocols and pleas of the health authorities.
This action is detrimental to the health, well -being and lives of our people and cannot therefore be permitted to continue unchecked. It has therefore become necessary for the Government to take stronger legislative action to protect the nation and its residents.
The Constitution of Dominica protects certain fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons within Dominica,but it also provides for those individual rights and freedom take second place for the collective benefit of all Dominicans. The provision set out in what I will call the COVID-19 Regulations, are limited to those determined to be necessary to improve the effectiveness of the State, in protecting the people of Dominica from the ravages of the pandemic. This is to be done in the first instance through the Environmental Health Services Act, No. 8 of 1997 and Regulations.
In particular, new Regulations in the form of the Environmental Health Services (COVID-19) Regulations 2020, will take effect from 10pm today, Saturday 28th March 2020 and the general provisions will remain in force until Saturday 18th April 2020, unless the Minister, by Order notifies otherwise. However, the provision providing for a curfew will only have effect from 10 pm,Saturday 28th March 2020 until 8 am Tuesday 31st March 2020, unless the Minister by Order published in the Gazette extends this.
The following are provided for under the Regulation:
•Isolation of person infected or suspected to be infectedwith COVID-19
•Special restrictions and requirements on persons arriving from outside Dominica
•Closure of the air and seaports
•Requirement for Provision of truthful information
•Requirement to notify the authorities of symptoms
•Prohibition of gatherings of more than ten (10) persons
•Curfew
•Closure of schools
Failure to comply with any of the provisions of the Environmental Health Services Act and Regulations is an offence and under the provisions of the Environmental Health Services Act 1997,a person guilty of an offence under these provisions may receive a fine of ten thousand dollars ($10,000)and imprisonment for twelve (12) months.
We are hopeful that our people will fully cooperate and there will be no need to enforce these provisions. It is in the best interest of all of us in Dominica that we all heed the guidance and requests of the health authorities.
May God bless us all. Thank you
Mister of Health
