Even though he has come in for much criticism for saying that the city would not be placed on a lockdown, Mayor of Georgetown City, Ubraj Singh says he is standing by his comment since it is premised on the understanding that wider consultation is needed.
Reiterating the point he made initially, the Mayor said it is prudent to consult with the Ministries of Public Health, Communities, and Public Security, along with the Private Sector Commission and the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) before making a decision to shutdown the city.
The Mayor said, “With Georgetown being the capital city and the main economic hub for the country, a number of measures need to be implemented before a lockdown/curfew is enforced. Such measures can, and will in most instances, disrupt aspects of our way of life. In light of this, it goes without saying that the Council must seek advice and guidance before the capital city is brought under a lockdown/curfew. At this time, we are still consulting the relevant stakeholders to bring this process to an end…”
Singh expressed hope that members of the public understand that any uninformed or ill-informed measure taken by him to place the city under a lockdown/curfew can result in high levels of anxiety and psychological distress for the Guyanese people, hence his decision to consult with others.
“We can defeat this virus by working together and adhering to the plethora of Government advisories to fight the spread of this invisible enemy (COVID-19). Blaming each other will only serve to undermine our efforts,” the Mayor concluded.
