Even as they prepare to reopen their doors today after having been closed for seven months, it is uncertain whether the Lake Mainstay Resort on the Essequibo Coast will be able to make a grand comeback after the financial toll inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stabroek News on Wednesday spoke with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the resort, Wilfred Jagnarine, who said that the effects of the pandemic have adversely affected business, the lives of his employees and him as well.
At the beginning of the lockdown, Jagnarine was abroad and was unable to return to Guyana until September, during which time Lake Mainstay Resort, like all other services within the hospitality industry, took the hardest of hits. All thirty-three full-time employees were laid off. However, the resort needed security which resulted in two guards being kept on. The CEO said that for the first couple of months they were able to take care of the necessary utility bills but as time progressed they were forced to pay them out of pocket. In fact, Jagnarine disclosed that he even had to go as far as borrowing money and added that he was recently forced to borrow a second sum.
While he was out of the country, the CEO said he had five of his senior staff making periodic checks on the resort although there wasn’t much they could do with no finances. Further, the wages for these employees are still outstanding and he has promised that with the reopening, they will be paid.
The man pointed out that
unlike the US where a COVID relief fund takes care of the unemployed working class, there is nothing like that here for Guyanese. Jagnarine said that it was a sad situation, not being able to provide for his employees when they needed assistance the most, but unfortunately his hands were tied financially. As a result of losing their jobs, about 45 per cent of his employees went in search of other sources of income – most, went into the gold mines. Now with the resort reopening he expects to hire new employees.
Apart from his full-time employees, an additional fifty-plus persons are usually contracted to work at annual events hosted by the resort. The annual events are their car and bike show held on Easter weekend and the Lake Mainstay Regatta held in August, both of which are sold out events. This year, both events were cancelled owing to the pandemic. The annual indigenous heritage day celebrations that is held in the Lake Mainstay community and also provides overnight guests for the resort was another event which was cancelled.
Aside from the lost jobs, the surroundings of the resort could not be properly maintained resulting in overgrowth as well as termite infestation in some of the buildings. Having gotten the permission to reopen, the staff has been working assiduously to make everything good as new as their announcement of their opening has already seen guests making weekend reservations. However, because it is not yet fully operational, the staff is functioning on a rotation system.
Lake Mainstay also has an airstrip, which prior to COVID was functioning well as guests would charter flights from Georgetown to the community.
Jagnarine said that he intends to keep the resort in operation for the next six months, on the condition that COVID restrictions and guidelines do not require them to shut again. Whether the resort is able to turn a reasonable profit or not will determine whether it stays open beyond the six months.
The resort has forty buildings, inclusive of their restaurant and cabins. They can cater for up to 160 persons and would have catered for more than 200 persons on one occasion. However, because of the pandemic, less persons will be catered for.
While their doors are now open to the public, Lake Mainstay Resort only caters for conferences and guests overnighting, and in most cases, these are either couples or families which will likely prevent intermingling with outsiders. The lake is big enough that families can have fun among themselves without having to violate social distancing protocols.
Prices for accommodation are dependent on whether it is peak or off-peak season. However, because they are aiming to make the experience affordable for their guests during this crisis, only off-peak season prices are being charged at this point. A cabin caters for four persons and prices start at $15,000.
All guests are expected to follow all the required COVID guidelines.
For bookings Lake Mainstay Resort can be reached on their Facebook page, via email at info@lakemainstayonline.com or phone at 226-2975 / 771-4960 / 616-8463 / 612-1857 / 623-9888.
