THREE separate youth organisations have condemned the decision by Giftland Mall to charge an entrance fee of $1000 to the mall as a way of controlling crowds during the holiday shopping season.The Youth for Change, Guyana Youth and Student Movement, Walter Rodney Youth Movement and The Youth for Local Government have collaborated as ‘One Youth with One Voice’ and issued a press statement, expressing their abhorrence at the decision taken by management of the mall.
Giftland Mall on Wednesday issued a press statement announcing that visitors there will have to pay a “redeemable concession fee” of $1,000 upon entry on December 23 and 24.
Giftland Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Roy Beepat said management of the mall implemented the fee to ease the presence of holiday limers at the mega mall, located behind the CARICOM Secretariat at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.
However, a statement signed by One Youth’s General- Secretary Sheba Thomas, said while the charge is redeemable, the group condemns the statement by Giftland, which read “This charge is solely for youngsters who are hanging out in groups with no intention of shopping and whose sole purpose is to annoy and disrupt normal shoppers.”
The youth groups are calling on Beepat to withdraw the statement.
“While we acknowledge that businesses and the private sector have the right to implement best practices that favour growth and protect their investment, we urge the managing- directors of Giftland Mall to rethink their method of crowd control, as it may serve as a basis for negatively profiling persons,” the statement said.
The groups also encouraged youths to demonstrate positivity and “show that we are more than the negative stereotypes that we are often portrayed as, that we are more than the negative labels and tags placed on us.”
It said while Beepat told INC Magazine last year that “in everything, you must have balance,” the group is encouraging businesses that while they express concern about security, they also must consider consumers interests and ensure equal and fair treatment to all demographics.
“We also wish to remind all proprietors that you can ill afford to be discriminatory or appear to be discriminatory if you intend to enjoy the confidence of all consumers,” One Youth said.