The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) yesterday issued a list of the 40 restaurants that are thus far allowed to have indoor dining in accordance with the amended COVID-19 gazetted emergency measures.
The 40 establishments that can have indoor dining at 40% capacity and following COVID-19 emergency protocols are: Aspire+ Hotel; Beacon Café and Eatery; Brown’s Café; Pegasus Hotel; Café Bellvana; Caribbean Inn Restaurant, Grand Coastal Inn; Church’s Chicken, Avenue of the Republic; Giftland Mall Food Court; Nice Restaurant; Status International Hotel; OMG Restaurant; Playland Americano Italiano; Popeye’s Chicken & Seafood, Camp Street; Popeye’s Chicken & Seafood, Water Street; Popeye’s Chicken & Seafood, Vlissengen Road; Qik Serv on Main Street; Sucre Restaurant, Herdmanston Lodge; Terra Mare Restaurant, Guyana Marriott Hotel; The Lime Restaurant & Lounge, Park Vue Hotel; Royal Restaurant, Princess Hotel (Georgetown Ramada Princess). These were granted approval on January 16, according to GTA Director, Carla James.
On January 17, another 13 restaurants were approved: Backyard Café; Bistro Café & Bar; King’s Hotel & Residences; Church’s Chicken, Camp & Middle streets; Crème Select Ice Cream Lounge; Demico Qik Serv, Camp Street; Demico Qik Serv, Croal Street; Hard Rock Café; Hilton Restaurant, Idaho Health Bar, Stabroek Demico House; Jaxx Inter-national Grill; Regency Suites Hotel; The Duke Restaurant, Duke Lodge; and The Original Palm Court.
Between January 18 and 28, nine more were confirmed. Those are: B and S Restaurant, Church’s Chicken, Camp & Robb Street; Church’s Chicken, Hinck Street; Church’s, Parika; Royal Castle, Sheriff Street; Royal Castle, Regent Street; Starbuds Restaurant; The Coffee Bean Café; and Hibiscus Restaurant & Lounge.
While speaking with Stabroek News on Thursday, James said that the GTA and the taskforce with the Ministry of Health intend to do ‘mystery shopping’ as a form of monitoring the places that have been approved. “So we have a couple of monitoring mechanisms. I think this is mainly done through mystery shopping. Our team members and members of the task force and Ministry of Health is making random visits and going to dine to be able to continue to see if the businesses are following the policies… that are set out in the Gazette and based on what they have been conditionally approved for,” James related. She also disclosed that the GTA is looking into a system which will enable feedback from diners about different restaurants’ customer service, health and safety protocols, and other observations to check whether the businesses are continuing to deliver on key areas. James said that once the feedback is received, the GTA will make unannounced visits to the restaurants and will then address the deficiencies being highlighted.
As it concerns ensuring persons are safe when they dine-in at restaurants, the Director said that the inspections have certain requirements that need to be met before approval can be permitted. She explained that these inspections are carried out by the GTA in a sort of partnership with the COVID-19 task team. She said that once the requirements are met and proper sanitation is available, the GTA further advises the businesses to use their windows for ventilation and fresh air. In the instance where the business has no windows, the restaurants are encouraged to set their air conditioning to an extraction mode. Most importantly, James said, persons are encouraged to wear masks when they are not eating. “Once you stop eating and you’re having a conversation just put on your mask.”
She added that many businesses have shown the willingness to comply with the regulations for the indoor dining. Also, she has experienced the in-door dining experience and found it to be impressive with the way the teams on the ground follow protocols. James mentioned that the GTA while conducting inspections has noted that quite a few establishments have made the decision not to offer indoor dining, simply because of the safety protocols required and the fact that their businesses are performing well enough with outdoor dining, curbside pickup, and delivery services. Restaurants that have made this decision are asked to place public signs to advise patrons accordingly.
