Although enforcement of the national coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emergency measures is to be stepped up during the Christmas season, Prime Minister Mark Phillips yesterday said it would be as a last resort as the government is focusing on educating citizens about the virus and encouraging them to follow the measures.
“We can expect greater enforcement [during the Christmas season] but as I mentioned before our focus more is on education, engaging and encouraging people to observe and adhere to the measures. Enforcement will be done, but as far as I am concerned as National Coordinator, enforcement should be a last resort. What we need are people who are better educated, must be encouraged and must adhere to the COVID-19 measures. If we have to enforce, we will enforce but let us practice what we know. We know of the measures and let’s adhere to them,” Phillips said at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre yesterday.
Infections continue to rise despite ongoing enforcement measures and recently the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed Guyana as a country where there is a very high risk of contracting COVID-19 and warned against travelling here.
Phillips said that he thinks the government is doing a good job in curbing the spread of the virus but it is the responsibility of the people to continue to observe all preventative measures. He noted that Guyanese love to shop, socialise and hold gatherings during the Christmas season but this year the holidays should be observed and celebrated with persons keeping in mind that a pandemic is ongoing.
Phillips stated that Operation COVI-Curb, launched in October, is still ongoing and will continue until the spread of COVID-19 is curtailed.
Regarding bars that have been breaching the COVID-19 measures, he noted that many of them were issued warning letters and if they continue breaching the measure they will face the penalties as indicated in the Official Gazette.
“We will continue to monitor for any further breaches and you know….first we will issue letters of warning to the business and then we will take sterner measures. We are ready to take sterner measures. However, we want to work with all stakeholders, including the Private Sector Commission, the Guyana Tourism Authority and individual businesses…. We want to work with everybody to ensure that they adhere to the COVID-19 protocols,” he said.
