Families Say State of Emergency Is Disrupting Homes and Livelihoods
Families in communities under the state of emergency say repeated police searches and restrictions are disrupting their homes and livelihoods, while police say 24 people have been ordered to stay at home.
The state of emergency gives Minister of National Security Michel Chebat the power to issue confinement orders against people considered a threat to public safety. Staff Officer ASP Stacy Smith confirmed 24 have been issued.
“I can confirm that twenty-four confinement orders have been issued, which essentially requires persons who are the subject of those orders to remain at their place of residence for a particular period of time with due allowance and be made to handle matters of necessity and urgency.”
Police say the emergency is a tool to contain gang violence, and it gives them wider authority to search, restrict gatherings and monitor persons of interest. A Fairweather Street resident told News Five that police repeatedly visited the family’s home while relatives were mourning a recent death and that it felt more like harassment than protection.
“We come from a funeral Saturday, and they come harass us Saturday evening. By Sunday morning, they will have harassed us again. Sunday night, harass again.”
Residents say the restrictions also hit income. When someone cannot leave home to work, a whole household can lose its earnings, especially families who depend on informal work such as fishing and car washing. The resident said police should stop detaining innocent people.
“So they have to stop the pickup of innocent people and take them from their people because then the pickney de-erries you.”
The emergency also bars public gatherings, raising questions about the Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations in affected communities. Smith said the main event is under review and that the public will be told in advance of the police’s plans.
“I think the long and short of it is that we have to recognise that we are under a state of emergency and the status quo; whilst we would want it to remain, it cannot be another day around the town.”
He said the main event is the first consideration and that the media will be told so the public can be informed.