‘COVID survivor’ caught hosting illegal party

A Kingston man pleaded guilty to breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act and the Noise Abatement Act when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court last week.

The court heard that on September 1, Damion Petgrave was seen outside his home at 7:15 p.m., hosting an illegal party. It was reported that Petgrave told the police "a me birthday and me just a keep a likkle thing because last year me almost never deh here."

Petgrave then explained to Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague that he contracted the coronavirus last year and almost died and thought that it would be sensible to celebrate his birthday and give back to his community.

"I could never keep a big party, I live right behind the police station," he told the judge. Cole-Montague then imposed a fine of $15,000 for breaching the Noise Abatement Act or 30-days' imprisonment and $30,000 for breaching the curfew or face six months' imprisonment.