– as nationwide lockdown gazetted 1 week later
– Irfaan Ali identifies needed support for affected groups
One week after the caretaker Government, through the Ministry of Public Health, issued wide, sweeping restrictions and a national curfew, the directive has finally been gazette, but it has failed to establish a socio-economic policy plan to cushion the impact of the lockdown on non-essential workers, who are unable to earn during this period. 
The Coalition has come under heavy criticism over its lack of such contingency plans, and while it revealed on Wednesday that it is now making assessments to determine the impact on the operations of local businesses to shape an informed economic policy, this does not include the ‘common man’.
On the contrary, however, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali has already proactively outlined proposed measures to cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 virus and ease the financial hardship on not just businesses, but Guyanese people as well.
Among the reliefs suggested that specifically target the affected working class is the payment of minimum wage through tax rebates for three months for those who have been laid off or are unable to attend work due to COVID-19 lockdown.
In terms of tax relief, Ali recommended a refund of the past six months PAYE to all hospitality businesses to allow for the transfer of stipends to laid-off employees in the sector; relax withholding tax on gold and diamond miners for three months; remove value-added tax (VAT) on essential goods and services, including water, electricity, data, pharmaceutical, and medical supplies; and suspend the collection and remittance of VAT for three months.
Lower tariff for electricity in line with global oil prices, and provide fuel and farming supplies to small farmers over the next three months, to ensure that sufficient food is grown locally to cater for the potential reduction in food imports, were some of the economic relief he outlined.
Ali had also suggested financial and debt relief for these affected persons. This includes using moral suasion to encourage lending institutions and hire-purchase to waiver late fees and postpone repayments on credit card debts, loans, and mortgages; and postpone loan for the next three months as well as reschedule bad loans and waiver late fees and other penalties for the next three months. These institutions can be provided with tax rebates and tax credits equivalent to the forgone income.
Nevertheless, the legal supplement published in the Official Gazette on Thursday amended the emergency measures to include an expanded list of some additional specific agencies and categories of businesses and workers under essential services to be allowed exemptions under the curfew.
The emergency measures were put into effect by the ‘caretaker’ administration on April 3, pursuant to the direction of the President under the Public Ordinance Act, in an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been met with mixed reaction.
The original order has since been revoked and replaced with the newly gazetted directives.
Under the Emergency measures directive, “any person who fails to comply with any of the new measures commits an offence”, and shall be liable to summary conviction.
Some of the measures outlined in the Govt directive include directives to stay at home, stating that “every person shall remain in the confines of his or her home and its yard space”, except or as otherwise provided.
All persons employed within the Public Service, a statutory body or a State-owned enterprise shall also work remotely from home, except as may otherwise be directed by the Public Health Minister, acting on the advice of the responsible Ministers and Heads of Agencies.
With regards to essential services, these will carry on with 24-hour operations.
These include hospitals, healthcare and medical services, including pharmacies, drug stores and private veterinary services; nursing homes, orphanages, shelters and other related care centres; immigration; Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); electricity services; water supply services; the Disciplined Forces; Guyana Prison Services; solid waste management, sewerage and janitorial services; air traffic control (ATC); the Demerara Harbour Bridge and Berbice River Bridge; hotels and accommodation; and factories, manufacturers or distributors of food supplies and essential goods, including medical supplies where the Minister of Public Health has determined that the continuation of these operations do not pose a risk to public health.
Telecommunications and media are also included in the essential services category. Other services deemed essential include those included in mineral and petroleum exploration and development, including those involved in the supply chain.
Security, certain port and transportation services have also been included as essential.
