Quite what would have triggered last week’s outburst by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in response to correspondence sent to the Palm Court Restaurant and Bar by the COVID-19 Task Force in the matter of what the Task Force says is the popular downtown entertainment facility’s repeated breaching of the restrictions associated with the pandemic, is difficult to tell. It came, seemingly, without justifiable reason. If there was a feeling (and perhaps that may have been the case) on the part of the PSC that the Task Force, might have, somehow, wronged the Palm Court in the issuance of its the missive, then it has to be said that the PSC’s response amounted to a considerable over-reaction; and that is to say the least.
Interestingly, nowhere in its rant does the PSC actually challenge the Task Force’s assertion that the Palm Court has been in breach of the COVID-19 restrictions. On the contrary, the thrust of its irate missive was that the Palm Court was, in fact, being ‘picked on’ by the Task Force since “hundreds of businesses operate in a similar manner to that of Palm Court” and that, “hence, this action would appear to be biased and discriminatory and the letter should be withdrawn forthwith.” Here, the Task Force really has no case to answer since it has already responded with evidence of similar reprimands and warnings against other establishments, which, in effect, negates the PSC’s particular charge against it. The Palm Court, it should be said, has flatly denied any transgression.
In tone as much as in content the PSC went out on a proverbial limb in ‘batting’ for the Palm Court. It broke under the sheer weight of the tirade. For the sake of its reputation as Guyana’s most important Business Support Organization (BSO) the PSC should issue a public apology to the Task Force forthwith. A matter of this measure of importance is better settled quietly and with alacrity rather than be allowed to drag on down dark alleyways of controversy for which, frankly, there is a good deal of potential at this time. Further, the PSC, by its frenetic outburst, may well have rendered itself vulnerable to criticisms that could harm its broader standing …and that ought to be a matter of concern to it.
Its quite outrageous threat to remove itself from membership of the Task Force unless Colonel Hussain’s letter to the Palm Court is rescinded amounts to an exercise in equal measures of arrogance and brinkmanship. Is the PSC suggesting that it is prepared to compromise the critical mission of the COVID-19 Task Force by omitting itself therefrom rather than dismount the imposing high horse on which it ascended in order to stand behind the Palm Court?
Lest unsavoury assessments be made of its motives and its image tarnished over this occurrence, the PSC should descend its perch forthwith. Going forward, its communication with the Task Force in this regard should be attended by contriteness as well as a fulsome apology for its ill-conceived threat to withdraw therefrom unless the letter to the Palm Court is withdrawn. Afterwards, the PSC should assume a doubly diligent posture in search of a satisfactory resolution of the matter between the Task Force and the Palm Court as well as do what it can to ensure that the various transgressors of the strictures that attend the curfew, a circumstance of which there is manifest evidence, are suitably engaged.
