Portland residents worried about rising COVID numbers

As the COVID-19 figures continue to rise in Portland, a wave of fear has emerged among some residents who are now calling for more stringent measures to halt illegal parties and the so-called drink outs.

This after 58 new cases were reported for the parish last Saturday, the most in any one day since the pandemic hit the local shores last March. Businessman Lloyd Anderson, who spoke to THE STAR on Monday, is one of the persons clamouring for those attending illegal parties and other gatherings to be charged under the Disaster Risk Management Act.

Anderson argued that unless persons are literally dragged before the court and made to pay, the wanton disregard for law and order would continue to flourish irrespective of the measures put in place by the Government to combat the dreaded coronavirus.

FIND ILLEGAL LOCATIONS

"Unless the police and citizens, law-abiding citizen, work together to sniff out all the illegal locations, then the figures will continue to increase," said Anderson.

He added "Persons are still going to beaches and rivers even in the dead of night. Dozens of persons 'flasking' (drinking), dancing, and hugging, without their face masks. No form of social distancing. And they are the very ones returning home to spread the virus among the elderly in the home or in the community. But mark my word, if wi nuh change wi style, there will be a lot of death in this parish."

Portland has tallied 664 cases overall since the first infection was recorded nearly a year ago, however the parish still has the lowest number of COVID-19 cases islandwide.

Another resident, Gilbert Hall, who is a jerk vendor, said that unless the police are able to locate the secret entertainment spots and disrupt the gatherings, more positive cases will emerge from Portland, which could result in a lockdown of the parish.

"Dem nah wearing mask and dem nah social distance," said Hall. "A di young people dem a hide and go a party and beach, night and day. All up a Berrydale dem deh a river a swim and have party. Some a wi affi go dead before others start tek dis ting serious. But dawg nam wi suppa if this ting continue much longer, because some people a gwaan like dem a iron and concrete."