– help ‘Council’ launch sanitization exercise in township, other communities

THE Rose Hall business community, through the Central Corentyne Chamber of
Commerce (CCCC), has partnered with the Rose Hall Mayor and Town Council to start a sanitisation exercise in the township and neighbouring communities.

The initiative is one of many being undertaken by the CCCC and the township in an effort to help combat COVID-19. The exercise was begun on Wednesday afternoon and will be ongoing.

Chamber President Mohamed Raffik told reporters at the start of the exercise that the Chamber’s contribution to the project is to provide the cleaning supplies, while that of the Council is to provide labour and equipment.

The exercise began at Rose Hall Market Street and wended its way through
various streets in the town, going all the way to Cloud Nine Street in neighbouring Hampshire, and the Port Mourant Market area.

According to ‘Chamber’ executive member Poonai Bhigroog, in addition to the sanitization drive, the ‘Chamber’ has also distributed over 1000 masks to all the orphanages within the area, as well as provided those institutions with cleaning supplies and helped to sanitise them.  An order has also been placed for 5000 face masks to be sewn so they can be distributed across Central Corentyne.

The CCCC has also been sponsoring several live television programmes to help spread awareness and tips on how to protect oneself against COVID-19.

Rose Hall Mayor Chatergoon Ramnauth seized the opportunity on Wednesday to thank the Chamber for helping the Council take the fight to COVID-19.
He noted that now more than ever, unity and cooperation are needed in order to tackle this pandemic. He said that the Council has taken a decision to prohibit vendors from selling if they fail to adhere to the safety guidelines such as wearing face masks, practicing proper hygiene, and maintaining physical distance.

“We will give a verbal warning, followed by a written warning,” Ramnauth said. “And if
they fail to comply, then we will be forced to suspend them from vending. Most of the vendors are cooperating, but a few are being
difficult. Our staff will be on site daily to ensure everyone is complying, and if not, we would take the necessary actions.”

OPEN SUNDAY TO FRIDAY

The Rose Hall Market is presently operating daily on Sunday to Friday from 06:00hrs to 12:00hrs, but is closed on Saturdays for general sanitization. The stalls and vendors have been appropriately segregated so as to ensure there is a three to six-foot between the vendors. Municipal staff are on site daily, and are helping to ensure patrons are also maintaining physical distance, as well as washing their hands upon entering the markets.

Meanwhile, in light of the recent scaling down of business, the Chamber’s President is appealing to the members of the business community to do whatever they can to take care of their employees.

“I would like members of the business sector to take care of their employees during this period; help them to get to the end of this, especially at this critical time,” Raffik said. “Because, at the end of this, these are the individuals whose services we would need.”