Pastor in the South Arrested for Breach of S.O.E.

Chester Williams

In the south, a pastor in Santa Cruz village in the south is facing charges under the State of Emergency Regulations. Police say that there were sixteen persons inside the church on Sunday night, which is contrary to the new S.I. that was passed. The new piece of legislation makes provision for church goers but that number is limited to ten. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams explains.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I think there was one person who was charged who was a pastor for having more than the required ten persons in a church. This occurred in Santa Cruz in the Toledo District.  The police officers visited the church and I think it was at seven-fifty-five p.m., which I think was minutes before the curfew hour and inside the church were sixteen persons when in fact the law states that it should be no more than ten and based on that the pastor of the church was arrested.”

Reporter

“Sir, what would you say to these people, I mean, it is their belief that has them in this church and they feel that they will overcome the illness by worshipping in this manner?”

Chester Williams

“Well, we have a law that we must abide by. Whilst I am a god-fearing person and I am sympathetic towards the church, we have a law that we must abide by and everybody must abide including the churches.”

Andrea Polanco

“Sir, in that case while you had the pastor and those sixteen persons in there – is there any possibility that those persons themselves can be held accountable or responsible for gathering?”

Chester Williams

“Yes, they could have but we saw it fit to have just dealt with the pastor since he is the one who controlled what happens in the church and so he was the one who had them there and so as the leader of the church he was the one held accountable.”