G’town mayor calls on shoppers to adhere to social distancing measures
—’We need to defeat COVID-19 together’
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, April 19, 2020
Mayor of Georgetown, His Worship Pandit Ubraj Narine has reiterated his call to shoppers to heed the guidelines on social distancing.
In a Zoom interview with DPI, Mayor Narine disclosed that some customers shoppers at the Stabroek and Bourda markets continue to show disregard for the advisories on physical distancing that require persons to remain no less than 6-feet apart while in public spaces.
Mayor of Georgetown His Worship Pandit Ubraj Narine
“This fight here is not only Government’s fight, it is not only a city-level fight […] We need to defeat COVID-19 together,” Mayor Narine cautioned.
The Georgetown Mayor reminded that the emergency measures and advisories were instituted to safeguard public health and failure to do so would complicate efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The Mayor, however, commended the vendors for complying with the regulations of the Mayor and City Council in addition to the gazetted emergency measures.
Vendors and stallholders and caravan operators are observing the following measures:
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- All produce must be stored 6 inches above the ground.
- All meats being sold must be packaged and not left in the open
- Frequently touched surfaces must be regularly sanitised with bleach and water solutions.
- Wearing of face masks is mandatory to maintain their safety and that of patrons.
- They must ensure social and physical distancing is practised at their stall/caravan.
- Caravan operators are to ensure that a system is in place for customers to be able to sanitise. A sink equipped with potable water and soap must be available before they access the goods.
- All municipal markets and street vending will operate between the hours from 7 am to 2 pm.
On April 3, Minister of Public Health Hon. Volda Lawrence instituted a wide range of emergency measures to combat the spread of COVID-19. Among the measures are restrictions on public gathering and the implementation of a 6pm-6am curfew.