WILLEMSTAD - With the adoption and entry into force of the National Ordinance Exceptional Situation and the implementing decrees based on it, the government and Parliament of Curaçao have created a powerful instrument to combat the COVID-19 virus.
During the lockdown in March 2020 and the period after that, it appeared that the violation of fundamental rights included in the various COVID schemes may not have sufficient legal basis. For that reason, the police have taken limited action and above all only warned and the Public Prosecution Service (OM) has not actively prosecuted. In the meantime, the regulations on the exceptional situation have been adopted by Parliament.
This clears the way for the police and the Public Prosecution Service to take sanctions. In the Triangle, the consultation between the Minister of Justice, the police and the Public Prosecution Service, it has been agreed what the sanctions are and how the police will act.
In view of the rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 infections, a sanctioning policy is also necessary. Because this is a clear change from the policy as it applied before, the Public Prosecution Service is alerting the public to this change, which could lead to significant fines if the new rules promulgated by the government are not followed. The Public Prosecution Service will pursue a zero-tolerance policy with regard to violation of COVID measures.
Below are the transaction amounts that are actively monitored by the police in the general interest of public health in Curaçao. Failure to comply with a transaction will in principle lead to prosecution with a higher demand in court.
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Punishable acts committed related to the COVID-19 crisis |
Fine
|
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Prohibition to maintain certain business or company open for the public
Business with 1 to 5 employees
Business with 5 to 25 employees
Business with 25 or more employees
|
1,500.- guilders
3,000.- guilders
5,000.- guilders |
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Fail to comply with agglomeration policy
|
1,000.- guilders
|
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Fail to comply with social distancing rule in public spaces |
500.- guilders
|
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Fail to comply with rule against meetings, events and manifestations in public and non-public spaces |
2,000.- guilders (for organizer)
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Fail to comply with curfew on public roads Second time Third time will be summoned to court |
1,000.- guilders 1,250.- guilders
|
|
Fail to comply with dry law
|
1,000.- guilders |
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Fail to comply with rule to wear face mask |
250.- guilders
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For more information contact the Public Prosecution Service.