Based on the new measures recently issued by the National Task Force on COVID -19, as part of Phase 1 of the reopening of Guyana, the National Park will be opened to the general public beginning today.
According to a statement from the Protected Areas Commission, the park will open from 6:30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday but will remain closed on weekends. In order to keep the public and staff safe, the following guidelines will be enforced;
1. Access will be allowed through the Thomas Road and Carifesta Avenue gates. The Albert Street entrance will remain closed to the public.
2. Admission to the park will depend on the number of persons already in the park, so as to ensure that physical distancing is adhered to and maintained at all times.
3. Walking and jogging will be done in an anti- clockwise direction. Guidance will be provided by the Security Team.
4. No contact sport, cycling or special events will be allowed during this phase. The athletic/sport fields, tarmac and Play Land will remain closed.
5. Primary School aged children and those below, MUST BE accompanied and supervised by adults at ALL TIMES.
6. All dogs must be kept on a leash.
7. No gathering of more than 5 persons at any time in any area of the Park would be permitted. We highly encourage patrons to avoid unnecessary loitering or lingering.
8. Parking will be free as a measure to reduce human to human contact.
The statement said that additional sanitization measures will be in place – two sanitized washrooms will be available to the public and all staff will continue to follow sanitization protocols.
The statement added that adjustments may be made to these rules and procedures as the COVID-19 Task Force make changes to the national measures.
The Botanical Gardens, Zoo and Joe Vieira Park will remain closed to the public until further notice, the statement said.
