Health Minister rejects lobbies for opening nightclubs and bars
– said authorities to address house / private parties
The Minister for Health, Frank Anthony
Kaieteur News – Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, has refused lobbies for clubs and bars to be opened in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During his COVID-19 update on Thursday, he noted that there have been lobbies in many ways on the part of business owners for the reopening of nightclubs and bars. Despite these appeals, the Minister is adamant that they want to remain closed.
Its reasoning is rooted in the fact that the current Official List of COVID-19 measures strictly prohibits the same although several amendments have been made to allow other businesses to reopen under strict COVID-19 guidelines. Minister Anthony further lamented that the restriction had been in place since the publication of the first list of COVID-19 measures in March when Guyana recorded its first outbreak.
Kaieteur News understands that despite the restrictions, several bars and nightclubs have been found to be incompatible. Some have even been given closure orders in recent months.
In addition, Anthony claimed that those found to be in breach will face the consequences. “Bars are not allowed to be open. Many people have been lobbying for us to open bars but this is prohibited by the order issued. I hope people can keep to the law because if you don’t, you will suffer the consequences ”, he warned.
Notably, as part of the COVICURB- a campaign supposed to bolster compliance with measures, bars and nightclubs found to be opened can be closed. This was announced by Prime Minister Mark Phillips last year during a press conference in which he warned that the COVID-19 National Task Force may close non-compliant businesses.
During the update, Dr. Anthony also said there will be increasing efforts to find housing and other private parties that are being held in secret locations.
The Health Minister also used the opportunity to highlight that the Guyana Tourism Authority has been fulfilling its mandate to monitor local restaurants following the latest revision to the indoor eating index with 40% space . The Authority was allowed to close restaurants after a breach was discovered.
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