President, Dr Irfaan Ali has acknowledged that the fines imposed on persons and organisations for flouting the COVID-19 protocols are ‘inadequate’. To this end, he has issued a directive to the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, to dig into the laws and find a way to give more teeth to the measures governing penalties.
“The fines are inadequate, and I’ve asked the AG to relook at the laws to see how we can have amendment that can speak to the seriousness of what we’re dealing with,” he told reporters during a press conference today.
Asked if his government will be looking to adjust the curfew given the surge in new cases and increasing death toll, the Head of State replied, “Based on all the advice I have received, and the Task Force would have debated and deliberated, there is no need for the adjustment of the curfew.
Dr Ali opined that a lockdown will not slow infections, while adding that Guyanese have to be more responsible.
“You can lock this country down forever; every day, every night, but if people don’t adhere to the guidelines and the protocols, we’re not doing anything. So the issue is enforcement, the issue is adherence and public information and education,” he stressed.
Guyana has confirmed over 12,000 cases since March 2020, with almost 300 deaths.
The Gazetted Emergency Measures (No.16) for the period April 1 to April 30, 2021 remain unchanged and in force:
1. The National Curfew remains 10:30pm to 4:00am
2. Only essential services are authorized to operate on a 24-hour basis
3. Other services and businesses are required to close operations by 9:30pm. This is to facilitate workers getting home by 10:30pm
4. All persons involved in essential services should have in their possession a valid company identification card, accompanied by a letter from their employer verifying that they are performing essential services at a specified area/location.
5. Masks must be worn at all times in public, including when using public transportation
Any person, who fails to comply with any of the measures is committing and an offence under Section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that section.
That offender, under Section 152, shall, unless some other penalty is provided thereof, be liable to a penalty not exceeding $50, or, in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding two months.
In the event that it is a continuing offence, Section 152(2) of the Ordinance provides that the offender shall be liable to a further penalty not exceeding $10 for everyday which the offence continues, and in default of payment, to imprisonment, for any period not exceeding six months.
