Video: Commissioner On Quarantine Enforcement
“If somebody comes into Bermuda and chooses to not comply with the Quarantine Act they will be detained at the airport in the interest of security, health security to Bermuda,” Police Commissioner Stephen Corbishley said, adding “there are lessons learned from Sunday where that did not happen.”
This follows after Sophia Cannonier and Michael Watson returned home from the UK on Sunday and left the airport. Later that night, a a number of police officers were seen outside of the Cannonier Watson residence, which was followed by the Health Ministry and Police stating that the couple “are in breach of section 27[1][ab] of the Quarantine [Covid-19] [No. 3] Order 2020 for refusing to comply with a requirement to quarantine” and it “is expected that this matter will go before the courts.
Speaking at this evening’s press conference, Commissioner Corbishley said, “The BPS for 18 months now have worked in support of the Government’s position to protect Bermuda from the coronavirus and we continue to do so, and also to reiterate the point that the Premier has raised, our biggest risk is the border.
“Now on Sunday, what concerned many that a family arrived in Bermuda and did not comply with the quarantine regulations and were allowed to leave the airport. There was a plan in place — jointly between ourselves and health — but quite clearly, the execution of that plan resulted in that family leaving.
“And as already articulated, there is now a process in regards to their accountability in regards to breaching those regulations. And whilst now is not the time to blame, there is a very intense process to look at the lessons learned on the responsibility certainly of the BPS to ensure that it doesn’t take place again.
“And we are aware of other people, quite prominently stating that they also intend to breach the quarantine regulations. Let me be clear that what happened on Sunday will not happen again.
“The lessons learned have been addressed and we will ensure that the government’s quite clear direction and the regulations in place will be adhered to.”
“If somebody does not agree, or fails to comply with the quarantine process, then there is quite clear regulation, which results in detainment, arrest, and prosecution,” the Commissioner added. “We have put additional resources in to make sure that takes place from the BPS perspective.”
The video below contains extracts of the Commissioner speaking this evening, please note he was speaking at three different times during a timespan of over one hour and we have edited them together, and if you would prefer to watch the full unedited video you can see that here, but we added the extracts of the Commissioner together for people who want to see his comments all together.
Premier David Burt also addressed the general topic at the press conference, saying: “Let me be clear: the Government’s policy on the requirement for supervised hotel quarantine of unvaccinated travellers is unchanged, and the expectation is that the law will be enforced.
“The attempts of some in this community to make false comparisons of the selfish and reckless actions we all witnessed with some recognised historical causes for social justice and hard-won freedoms are quite frankly offensive.
“I have made the Government’s position on this matter clear to the Governor, and I wish to leave no doubt in the minds of others who may take it upon themselves to test our resolve. The expectation of the Government is that there will be compliance with the law, and where the law is breached, there will be enforcement.”
According to a flyer circulating someone plans to return home tomorrow afternoon.
You can find more information on the links below and also on our dedicated website BermudaCovid.com, which is the most comprehensive resource and historic record available of Bermuda’s handling of the pandemic.
- All: Our coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic here
- Bermuda Stats: Chart of testing stats here
- Vaccinations: Data covering vaccinations here
Still waiting for 2 ministers from blu to go court. You can’t pick choose and refuse. Jokers
They need to go to jail! Pure and simple for flouting the law and putting us all in danger!
They have already appeared in Court over the Blu incident and plead not guilty
and those plp MP’s that broke their own government’s laws walk free?
But what is happening? Are they now in hotel quarantine? Will they be having the day 4, 8 and 14 COVID tests, or are they doing exactly what they want because they’re so special compared to the rest of us??!!
It must be very frustrating being the Commissioner under the direction of a Government that really has no clue as to which end is up.
By my whiskers! Is it not great to create policy using junk science and be supported by the Komissar Politsii! My whiskers have made criminals of law-abiding people!
Life is good when you are King.
Who’s going to protect us from ‘them’?
In time of safety, do we need protecting?
Go save our young men off the street, go support the widower and the fatherless child.
In time of heath, should we be treated as sick?
Invest in cancer research and free treatment and tackle diabetes.
If they insist on wasting money housing people, start with the homeless.
Oh I forgot, NOT one of them has been sick.
But a shelter would be nice.
In time of joblessness and gov. dependence, invest in the people’s gifts, talent and passions.
Instead of wasting money on paying to police us, intentionally put our men to work.
“it is expected that this matter will go before the courts.”
Yes, but probably not not for at least 14 more days
Not sure why he didnt answer Ceolas questionS. Hold him to the break Ceola
The problem is that we need to get them to recognize natural immunity & antibodies which they refuse. Please stop drinking the Kool-aid that they are serving to you before it’s too late. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!
Str8 from WhiteHall….. they make the rules or simply sign off on local law
What is the penalty if funds are not available upon the return trip to stay at a hotel? Can someone please answer that ?
Confiscation of all shopping/purchases done whilst on their overseas trip!
Taxpayer funded!!!
LOL
“What is the penalty if funds are not available upon the return trip to stay at a hotel?”
If you choose to travel then you must budget for your return trip.
I do not know of anyone who chooses to buy a one-way ticket to a foreign country and then expects the Bermuda Government to bring them home.
Quarantine for those who are caught by the Regulations and choose to travel is part of the cost of returning home.
Muppet dosen’t have a clue.
He has to wait for his next order!
Calling all government supporters to come out
This is absolute madness civil disobedience is a normal democratic procees. They have decided to self isolate in their own dwelling who are they infecting,when a person goes to a hotel how many people are at risk. We must as a people look beyond the stupidity of this isolation in a hotel, one must spend thousands to stay their when it is a persons right to return to their country of origin. Suppression of anyones freedom is not democracy nor will it ever be. This government makes up the rules as it goes, get vaccinated and save lives they say despite data that suggest some have gotten ill from the vax, but hey thats ok right, give more freedom to the vaxxed and take away the freedoms of others. This people cannot constitute democracy, I support Sophia and Mike for taking a stand they are heroes fighting against the oppressive regime that is the PLP. If more people took the time to research the miracle vaccines, and the companies that make them they could make an informed decision. However folks are quick to back something they have not researched themselves. Quick to pass judgement because the government says so, it is the right of all citizens to live wothout oppression, what laws did they break, a government that enacts energency orders becomes a dictatorship and one can use the word pandemic if they like, elected officials donot have the right to impose their views or make anyone take a vax, nor do they have the right to assume that it is in the best interest of the country without contacting the electorate as the government is the people. They are in politics at the behest of the voting public and they should respect this. KUDOS TO MUKE AND SOPHIA BUFFALO SOLDIERS I STAND WITH YOU.
I don’t understand why the Watson-Cannonier family are so entitled to think the rules don’t apply to them? They chose not to have the vaccine, as is their right. But are they also allowed to choose what Covid rules they do or do not abide by? What makes them so special???!! In any other country such as Singapore or Australia they would be in jail for flouting the regulations.
Agreed!