Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that individuals convicted of violating COVID-19 regulations will also be pardoned under new legislation to be brought before Parliament.

This latest update follows his earlier statement that the government intends to pardon all citizens and residents previously convicted for possession of small quantities of cannabis, with the aim of giving them a clean criminal record.

In a follow-up social media post, Browne confirmed: “All those convicted for COVID violations will be pardoned too.”

Both measures are expected to be introduced at the next sitting of Parliament by ABLP legislators, including Browne—who styled himself “Ras Gassy” in his announcement—as part of efforts to provide relief for minor past offences that continue to affect people’s lives.