Arrestable Offences

I came across the Royal Grenada Police Force Prosecution Department on a recent trip to the Market Square in St. George's. It was a Saturday, and as the signage attests, it was closed. This is the building overlooking the Market Square that used to be occupied by the Minor Spices Cooperative Society, which presumably no longer exists. Why the RGPF would locate their prosecution dept right above the market beats me, but it probably is because of damage to the original location by hurricane Ivan which was never repaired, forcing them to relocate to this less than ideal location.

Anyway, what caught my eye was the sternness of the warnings posted on the wall. Loitering as an arrestable offence is pretty strong stuff. In many countries loitering with intent to commit a crime is certainly an arrestable offence, but just plain loitering? In front of the Prosecution dept? Who would want to loiter there anyway? As to the parking, the whole street is designated No Parking, so why park at all, and in front of this particular office! Grenadians must be brave people. Or bold.

On the left door is a sign posted displaying the Carnival Rules. One rule which occupied the attention of the RGPF this year was apparently the arrestable offence of men (or women) dressing as the opposite sex. Men dressing as women has been a staple of the Jouvert for as long as I know it and probably much longer. It is usually employed as part of an Old Mas presentation, but it can just be for so. Well apparently this year the RGPF took it more seriously than usual and among the many admonitions to the Grenadian public, was the reminder that anyone caught dressed as the opposite sex would be committing an offence (presumably an arrestable one).

This is my cousin Craig posing with Lili on the Sunday before Carnival. Dressing as a woman during carnival is standard practice for him. Asked why, he replies "ay ay, is carnival.." He wasn't in full kit yet - "saving dat for tomorrow...I cyan go in town doh, de police go arrest me".