Weather conditions have started to worsen across the territory, and Government House has announced that curfews will be in effect for both districts, starting at 6 p.m. on St. Thomas-St. John and midnight on St. Croix. Both curfews run until 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.
In a statement issued around 1 p.m. Monday, Gov. John deJongh Jr. said the curfew was necessary to protect the safety of all residents, particularly on St. Thomas-St. John, where there’s been steadily increasing rainfall and gusty winds since mid-morning.
Police officers will be out enforcing curfew and anyone found in violation and without the proper curfew passes will be taken into custody, Police Commissioner Novelle Francis Jr. added in the statement.
Residents are also urged to stay at home unless absolutely necessary, Francis said.
Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Wayne Biggs is also reminding the public and business owners that a price freeze has been in effect since Sunday and will continue until he says otherwise. In a statement Monday, Biggs noted that there have already been reports of "sharp increases" in prices throughout the territory, and DLCA officers are "closely monitoring" for violations.
Meanwhile the governor will issue another statement on the status of government operations and the opening of public schools after an early evening conference call, according to a Government House release.
