FOLLOWING a high-level meeting with regional health officials on Sunday, New Amsterdam Mayor, Winifred Haywood, and Councillors issued a ‘Cease Operations’ proclamation for betting outlets, bars, and beauty parlours within the township.
The order took immediate effect.

“Pitt Street – the main shopping thoroughfare – is also ordered closed in preparation for sanitisation on Tuesday. Also, fish shops and hangout spots are to be closed immediately, along with churches, mandirs and mosques and other religious groups,” Mayor Haywood declared.

The decision came on the heels of a voice note, which suggested that there was a suspected case of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the township, and an increase in the number of confirmed cases in the country.

Mayor Haywood and Chair of the Market Committee, Sheantta Lambert, told the Guyana Chronicle that food stalls would be allowed to operate during market hours. However, restaurants are asked to offer delivery services only.

The Municipal Market will now be closed at 12:00hrs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The market, however, would be closed on Wednesdays and Sundays until further notice.

“Only persons selling essential products, inclusive of green and yellow vegetables, fruits and meats will be allowed to vend in the market. Vendors selling non-essential items such as clothing [and] shoes will not be permitted to do business. Supermarkets and grocery shop owners are to carefully monitor the intake of customers, so as to allow social distancing in line with the guidelines of Ministry of Public Health,” the Mayor said.

While some businesses are now mandated to close by 16:30, pharmacies will now be allowed to operate until 18:00hrs, instead of the previous 20:00hrs curfew.
In addition, the New Amsterdam Municipal Business Complex will be closed today (Monday) for sanitisation purposes. Residents are also being asked to be off the streets and remain indoors by 19:00hrs.

With respect to the payment of pension, Mayor Haywood disclosed that the monthly outreach at the New Amsterdam Post office, scheduled for April 1, has been postponed.
Further, Mayor Haywood is advising residents to eat healthy foods so as to build their immune system, and in so doing, fight COVID-19.

Residents of New Amsterdam were advised to comply with the new orders. Failure to adhere to these orders will result in the interventions by ranks of the Guyana Police Force .