Expats Who Took Part in the Yacht Gathering Off Lazarus Island Banned from Working In S’pore

Last Updated on 2021-05-22 , 5:48 pm

Remember the yacht party that took place on Lazarus Island last year, involving an unlawful amount of people dancing in close proximity to one another without their masks on? 

The group involved eight work pass holders from Britain. 

And on 20 May, they pleaded guilty to an offence under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, facing a fine of S$3,000 each. 

Here’s what happened. 

Expats Who Took Part in the Yacht Gathering Off Lazarus Island Banned from Working In S’pore

The eight work pass holders are Annabelle Morgan Duke, 26; Philip Edward Knatchbull Holmes, 27; Mark Alexander Bellamy, 29; Amy Georgina Hunt, 30; Thomas Cuthbert Williams-Jones, 30; Oliver Francis William Campbell, 31; Amy Alexandra Stewart, 32; and Benjamin David Waters, 32. 

They were part of a group of ten people who held an illegal gathering on a yacht off Lazarus Island, during a time when social gatherings were restricted to only five individuals. 

Previously in March this year, the other two partygoers—Singapore permanent resident Mark Lau San Mao, 30 and Briton Amy Grace Ropner, 28—faced a fine of S$3,000 for the same offence under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act. 

Ropner was consequently prohibited from working in Singapore. As for Lau, the period of validity for his re-entry permit will be reduced during his next renewal. 

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the work passes of the remaining eight Britons have been cancelled by their former employers. 

To know more about foreign work passes in Singapore, watch this video to the end:

Partygoers were Briefed Before Departure

The partygoers had been briefed by the yacht’s master before their departure from Sentosa. 

They were instructed to remain in groups of five, one at the front and the other at the back of the yacht. 

At the time, Singapore was in Phase 2, meaning that social gatherings were limited to groups of five.

Hence, they were told not to mix between groups and intermingle, as well as to keep their masks on when they were not in the water or consuming food and drink.

However, we already know where this story goes. 

Paying no heed to regulations, the group was seen intermingling and dancing close to one another without their masks on. 

Photos and videos of the group were then posted to social media, incurring the criticism and disapproval of netizens. 

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) then issued a statement on 23 January this year, declaring that the yacht’s license would be suspended for a period of 30 days. 

If found guilty of breaching a COVID-19 regulation, one could face imprisonment of up to six months and fined up to S$10,000.

Featured Image: Facebook (Bu Hui Yan)