Dear Editor,
On Saturday evening, March 6th, 2021 – the Region Four Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent K. Pareshram, disputed Giftland’s statement on “selective businesses being allowed to operate after the curfew and that we are not being singled out with unfair treatment from the Guyana Police Force.” We have footage that contradicts what the commander is saying and this will further indicate how both selective and unethical the police are towards us. We must again emphasize that we are adhering to current regulations including the curfew.
Despite closing music at the Mall Restaurant concessions at 9:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday 6th & 7th of March so that all orders could be completed and business closed at the regulated 9.30 PM, the police proceeded to arrest three persons from each restaurant at the Giftland Mall, this was once again in contradiction of what Pareshram stated as one person was manhandled and grabbed by the seat of his pants at 9.00 PM outside the Strip area and taken to the police station, by their Chief Enforcement Officer. The other two were arrested long after the bars were closed at 9.30 PM when the police arrived at 10 PM, and once again arrested for no reason, other than to instill fear, threaten, intimidate and bully the Mall concessions.
On Sunday evening, March 7th, 2021, the police visited and verified our closure at 9 PM but at 11 PM on the said evening, there were other establishments openly operating in contradiction of the curfew. These examples highlight that the commander is either unaware of what is transpiring, or of what is actually happening or exercising unlawful discretions as we suggested in earlier statements.
At Giftland, we not only have a policy to adhere to the current national regulations, but we also require that our various tenant establishments are also closed at 9 PM and vacated by 9:30 PM. Yet, the selective enforcement and police harassment continues. Over the past six months we have pleaded these issues and were promised a fair conclusion. These pleas have clearly fallen on deaf ears. We believe that an intervention by the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn is absolutely necessary to ensure that the public’s and private sector’s interests are protected and aligned with the government’s policies.
The actions by the leadership of the Turkeyen Police Station reflect poorly on the force and good governance. We are a business of principles and we will continue to report any unethical or unfair treatment we experience. We hope to receive adequate and a fair conclusion from the authorities as we strive to be fair in conducting our businesses. We want all of the small businesses we enable, and especially the many Guyanese workers thus employed, a work environment that is free from harassment by the police force.
Yours faithfully,
Roy Beepat,
Chairman,
Giftland Group
