PRIME Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, has said that any event organiser who has been given approval to host an event and then violates that approval will be investigated and could subsequently face penalties.

The Prime Minister, who is head of the COVID-19 task force, said this while responding to questions on the alleged COVID-19 protocol breaches, which were observed at the finals of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/Kashif and Shanghai Futsal tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, on January 8.

“We are committed to investigating and taking on board all breaches when approval is granted and dealing condignly with it. We have to protect the people of Guyana,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

Pictures and videos of the event showed persons congregating at the venue without observing COVID-19 protocols such as the wearing of face masks and social distancing.

It was estimated that the number of persons in attendance at the event exceeded the numbers which they were permitted to have at the venue, to maintain a safe environment.

The organisers of the futsal competition had been given permission by the National COVID-19 Task Force to go ahead with the hosting of the sporting event, in light of its cultural significance.

However, Prime Minister Phillips made it clear that notwithstanding what played out, the organisers were given permission to host the event with the clear understanding and instructions that all necessary COVID-19 measures were to be observed.

“The government granted approval for these activities with the understanding that the organisers will follow the established protocol.

“If you go and see any of the correspondence granting approval, it speaks about approval being granted and the need to follow the protocols,” the Prime Minister commented.

He added that this will not be the first time that the task force would have to sanction organisers for breaching COVID-19 protocols after being given permission to host an activity.

The event was held at a time when Guyana is experiencing exponential increases in new cases of COVID-19, as a result of what could be the presence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

Prime Minister Phillips advised persons, particularly event organisers, to continue to observe the COVID-19 safety measures.

“What is important now is for us to communicate to all the people of Guyana that all of us must be responsible in following the protocols, and if you are granted approvals for any activity you follow the protocols,” he said.

The GFF has since issued a statement taking responsibility for what took place at the event, and its President, Wayne Forde, said that the federation has also launched its own investigation.

Acknowledging that the breakdown took place, Forde noted that the intent was always to maintain COVID-19 protocols and a safe space.

He said that the GFF had worked along with the government prior to the hosting of the event to ensure a safe hosting, particularly by ensuring that only people who could show proof of vaccination would be able to participate in or attend matches.

The federation has also hosted vaccination drives in partnership with the Ministry of Health.