[Updated with video] Messages circulating indicate that an anti-mask march is apparently being planned for Friday, and the Commissioner of Police Stephen Corbishley said he is aware of the messages and that “from the point of view of the BPS, our role is that we support lawful protest” and he noted that we have “regulations around physical distancing and around people wearing masks in public.”
Speaking in a video he posted on social media, Commissioner Corbishley said, “I’m aware of a message that’s been going around social media – Facebook, WhatsApp – around an anti-mask march that’s taking place later this week. I’ll reserve my personal opinion on it, but from the point of view of the BPS, our role is that we support lawful protest – but that’s the key.
“We’re doing some work today. We’re engaging with the apparent organizers to discuss with them what they propose, but also to establish the lawfulness of such a march, because of course we’ve got regulations around physical distancing and around people wearing masks in public.
“If the intention of a demonstration is for people not to wear masks, it’s unlawful, so we’ve got to work through that.
“It’s not to negate people’s opportunity; people have different views on that, and that’s not a matter for the BPS to get involved with. Our matter is around people’s safety; certainly not just the people who may want to protest, but also in regards to the wider community. So we are aware, we are dealing with it, it is a process that we go through, and I’m sure we’ll be able to resolve it as we go forward.”
One message circulating claims the march will take place starting from City Hall, and a City Hall spokesperson told Bernews, “The City has policies and procedures in place for the rental of any of its properties and facilities, including City Hall. Permission is not granted until an official application has been submitted, approved and any applicable deposit fee paid for in advance. At this time the City has not received any application to hold an event at City Hall for the proposed march.”
This comes as the island is experiencing a spike in new cases, with over 300 confirmed to date and 75 currently active, and new regulations are in force, including a maximum of 20 people being allowed to gather.
In addition, the regulations have recently been amended to introduce fines – $500 for the first offence and $1,000 for the second offence upon conviction — for “persons not wearing a mask in accordance with the law.”
