Giftland Mall partially reopens as 200 employees still off job

As the National COVID-19 Task Force confirms the relaxation of the already-implemented guidelines, the Giftland Mall has partially reopened, as more businesses are allowed to operate.

Even with its doors now being reopened, owner of the Mall, Roy Beepat, confirmed that 200 employees would not be rehired.
Beepat explained that after being closed for almost four months owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was difficult to re-employ the hundreds of employees.
He added that his business has suffered financial losses.
“We are thankful that we are opened again, and that we are allowed to operate again. We feel that the country has lost a lot of revenue; we still have over 200 people that we can’t bring back because of these measures, and until they can get the hours sorted out,” he said.
Beepat noted that Guyana was not only affected by the pandemic, but also by its political climate.
“I don’t want to come one way or the other politically, but the strain of the last four months has been incredible, on me, on my team, and I am sure on all Guyanese that just want an end. We just want somebody sworn in. We want to get back to normal,” he alluded.
The proprietor said in keeping with the guidelines of phase two of reopening the country, 43 of 110 concessions at the Mall will be opened between 09:00h and 17:00h daily. The Mall has implemented the strict COVID-19 guidelines put in place by the National Task Force.
These guidelines are with the aim of protecting staff and customers that visit the Mall.
Beepat said these guidelines include a security team who would be monitoring the entrances to ensure that persons were washing their hands and maintaining social distance. He stated that the Mall would also have routine checks done to ensure that customers and staff were complying with the necessary guidelines.
Previously, only the FoodMaxx Supermarket and the pharmacy at the Mall were in operation. Now, electronics and telecommunications stores, beauty salons, food and grocery shops, as well as hardware stores, will be opened.
However, in keeping with the National Task Force guidelines, the food court is not open for persons to dine in.
Beepat noted that while there were businesses that were price gouging, the prices at Giftland Mall remain the same.
“There has been terrible price gouging … this is happening, because people are unscrupulous and they are taking advantage of the situation, because there are not many places open. At Giftland, we pride ourselves of always being fairly priced… that policy isn’t gonna change. We are not going to price gouge anybody,” he said.
Beepat further added that he was elated to reopen the Mall, and was expecting to extend its friendly customer services to the public as usual. (G9)