The Guyana Association of Bankers Inc has announced that financial institutions would soon be conforming with the newest COVID-19 measures, which place restrictions on access by unvaccinated persons.
“Financial institutions will soon conform with these protocols, and thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding,” the Association says in an ad, which appears in today’s Stabroek News.
The members of the Association are Republic Bank, Scotiabank, GBTI, Trust Company (Guyana) limited, Citizen’s Bank, Bank of Baroda, Demerara Bank, New Building Society, Hand-in-Hand Trust Corporation and the Guyana American Merchant Bank.
The announcement follows the gazetting of new restrictions on access by unvaccinated persons to privately-held buildings to which the public has access. The updated Emergency Measures now stipulate that persons who want to enter privately-owned buildings to which the public has lawful access now have to be vaccinated or alternatively will have to show evidence of a recent negative PCR test result or make an appointment. The requirements previously only applied to government buildings.
Meanwhile, President of the George-town Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Timothy Tucker yesterday said that the city chamber had not received complaints from businesses so far, which he stated may be as a result of the new order being released last Saturday.
Tucker said he only learnt of the new mandate when it was put out. Tucker remarked that the business community for a year and a half has implemented numerous regulations and also dealt with being in lockdown last year then went on to operate at 40% occupancy, now 60%. Additionally, businesses, he said, have followed the necessary guidelines as it relates to sanitising, social distancing and now ensuring that their workers are vaccinated. “We’ve done our part, we’ve protected our staff and if we’ve gone through all of this, I think it’s only right for the members of the public to protect the staff that are there trying to protect them. Businesses have implemented numerous amounts of stringent policies to make sure that the customers are safe when they come in. Now that that has been done, we believe that it’s time for the general public to do their part,” he reiterated.
The Private Sector Commission is yet to comment on this new measure. President of the commission, Paul Cheong could not be reached for a comment.
