…warn against beach activities; to beef up patrols

GUYANA Police Force (GPF) Regional Commanders said they are prepared to deal with any unlawful gathering, on Monday, and will be actively patrolling their divisions, given legal restrictions in place to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Being Easter Monday, Guyanese are accustomed to celebrating the national holiday with picnicking and flying of kites at parks and open spaces all across the country. This year, however, the country, like many across the globe, has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s a lot of issues that I am certain would rise up [Monday] and we would have to deal with it, but we’re prepared,” Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Regional Commander, Simon McBean said.

One of the main precautionary measures against the spread of the virus is the restrictions on social gatherings. Based on the COVID-19 emergency measures implemented by the Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence, on April 3, persons are prohibited from visiting the seawalls, community centres, and parks, among other public places.
The Joe Veira Park, in the vicinity of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, on the West Bank of Demerara, and the seawalls on the West Coast, are some of the more popular places where kite-flying takes place in this Region.

“All parks, fields, community centres, they’re all closed for the period. No one would be allowed on the seawalls, or to fly kites in open spaces where they can congregate. At the parks and seawalls that people normally group at, we plan to have active patrols there. We plan to have vehicle patrols checking areas to ensure compliance,” McBean shared of plans in that Region.

He noted that the Police Force has been working along with the Regional COVID-19 Task Force to get the message out there, so citizens are aware of what is and isn’t allowed.
“We started out with the region where we have the COVID-19 task force and at that level we have been doing some sensitization of the public, letting them know all parks and play grounds will be closed tomorrow [Monday] and no flying of kites,” McBean explained.
He noted, however, that that the focus is to prevent social gathering and not to altogether stop persons from flying kites.

Though persons are prohibited from going to public spaces, McBean related that cases where situation permits persons to fly a kite within their yard area, the police would not be stopping anyone from doing such, as long as it does not lead to a social gathering.
“We will have to take it case by case as it comes. Our aim is not to encourage any gathering in any form so we will deal with those situations as they pop up. If they are not encouraging gathering, let’s say if someone is by their bridge and there’s no issue that would breach the notice, we are fine with that,” McBean related.

McBean shared that since the countrywide restriction to public gathering has been implemented, police in that Region had, thus far, only had to make one arrest after a “rum shop” in Parika disobeyed the directive.
“A rum shop was hosting a birthday party and they were defiant in the sense that they knew the requirements and still did not adhere to the requirements. We arrested the owner. It was in Parika,” McBean said.

In Region Four, Regional Commander Phillip Azore said two arrests, as recent as last Saturday, were made. Both cases were in the City.
“There was a birthnight [Saturday] night somewhere in the Kitty area and [earlier Saturday] also there was a bar on Durban street and the proprietor was arrested,” Azore shared.
In terms of plans to ensure there is compliance on Monday, Azore said his Region is also well prepared.

“We always have a plan just in case things don’t go the way it’s supposed to. My anticipation is that things will continue to run the way it has been since the commencement of the curfew. If anything arises we are equipped to deal with it. The same normal partrols, as always, are in place but if any comes up there is a Plan B to deal with it,” Azore said.
Popular Easter gathering spots in this Region includes the Seawalls, National Park, and the Botanical Gardens.

Number 63 Beach, in East Berbice-Corentyne, Region 6, is one of the most popular kite-flying spots in the country. Regional Commander for that Region, Calvin Brutus, said there is a plan to have officers stationed at the Beach on the lookout for any case of non-compliance.

“Patrols will be increased. Some will be formed in the different mobile categories: cycles, four wheel vehicles and motorcycles. We will be deploying stationary police looking to see anyone who tries to breach the restriction by going on the beach and other open spaces like ball fields, creeks and other open spaces that people normally frequent. If they observe anything unusual they will call in and we will have a separate patrol to effect the arrest,” Brutus explained of his Region’s plan.

In Pomeroon-Supenaam, Region Two, Regional Commander Crystal Robinson, said she does not expect much resistance from residents in that Region but will still be on the alert, nonetheless, should any cases arise.

“Right now persons are adhering to the rules so I don’t think they will act out because all the beaches are fenced off and persons can’t go. We do have a plan to patrol to ensure that nobody is out, because sometimes you would have people who want to come out so we have to guard against to ensure persons do not come out,” she said.