–for breaching COVID-19 regulations
— as Task Force clamps down on ‘repeated’ violations
FOUR popular night spots in Georgetown were recently found in breach of the national curfew, instituted as part of the gazetted Emergency COVID-19 Measures, and members of the armed forces detained the owners and managers of the businesses.
According to information from the Guyana Police Force, the operation occurred between 22:00 hrs on Friday and 03:30 hrs on Saturday. During this time, ranks from the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force detained several persons at city businesses.
The Guyana Chronicle understands that these businesses were operating in breach of the national curfew, which is from 22:30 hrs to 04:00 hrs each day. According to the police, at the Sleep-In Bar and Casino on Church street, the proprietor, Clifton Bacchus, and two bartenders were detained in addition to 10 Chinese nationals – eight males and two females– who were at the casino.
At Club Altitude, which is located at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, the proprietor, Meer Rahaman, along with ten male and female patrons were detained. In Charlotte Street, Bourda, at the Kairos Bar, only the manager, Mark Alleyne was detained. Finally, at the Tower Hotel on Main Street, the ranks detained the Bartender, Delon Moffett and his assistant, Akeem Carmichael at the Hotel’s Club Privilege.
It was reported that all detained individuals were placed on cash bail pending their appearance in court. The NCTF has been ‘cracking down’ on local businesses operating in breach of the COVID-19 measures for some time now, however, many local businesses return to their operations in breach of the guidelines. In January, the body shut down the Sleep-In Bar and Casino, Club Privilege at the Tower Hotel and the Strip at the Giftland mall.
Prior to closing down these businesses, the NCTF has been issuing warning letters to businesses operating in breach of the COVID-19 guidelines. In an invited comment on Saturday, Director of the NCTF, Colonel Nazrul Hussain noted that since previous efforts geared at bringing these businesses into compliance have failed, the Task Force will now arrest and charge business persons whose entities are acting in contravention of the gazetted measures.
He clarified that the Friday night to Saturday morning operation did not shut down the operations of the businesses but he lamented that since these businesses are “repeatedly flouting the guidelines”, he contended that stronger actions have become necessary.
Meanwhile, last week, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, who is also the head of the NCTF, emphasised that all places of entertainment–restaurants and bars– must adhere to the national COVID-19 measures. He had said, “None is exempted and therefore none is above the law.”
The gazetted COVID-19 guidelines permit indoor dining at restaurants and bars, once the entities operate at 40 per cent capacity and adhere to the requisite health guidelines to ensure the safety of patrons and staff. Since this amendment, restaurants had to bring their premises in compliance and receive certification from the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) before being allowed to offer indoor dining. The official also told this newspaper that several bars have been operating under the guise of restaurant, offering outdoor dining.
