Easter Monday was greeted by closed parks, empty gardens and dismal seawalls in Georgetown as Guyanese stayed indoors to protect themselves against COVID-19.
The National Park seemingly desolate for Easter
The virus, which has been sweeping through the country and has already claimed six lives, has had its impact on social interactions and gatherings. With a complete ban on kite flying this year, traditional scenes of Easter were non-existent with these popular places on complete lockdown.
Gates of the Botanical Gardens remained shut
For the first time in history, this celebration was curtailed, by the very serious epidemic at hand as citizens opted to stay at home in efforts to flatten the curve.
Over at the seawalls where hundreds of kites would be buzzing away, Police officers stood at the cordons in complete silence, preventing persons from lining the defence structure or to set up any vending spots.
Empty seawalls
The gates of the zoo and Botanical Gardens remained shut, as it did over the past weeks with not a single movement in sight. Over the years, families would picnic at the National Park and Botanical Gardens until sundown as kites of different sizes and colours soar through the sky.
The Government had imposed stringent regulations that no one should be seen flying kites in the open, which was adhered to. In fact, church services were also cancelled in the morning hours and no one ventured out of their houses to engage in the traditional Easter Day practices.
The Number 63 Beach on Easter Monday
While the caretaker Government would’ve imposed a 06:00h to 18:00h curfew, restrictions were also placed on all social activities at private parties; sporting events; a banquet, ball or reception; bar or rum shop; the seawall; a pool, creek or river; a wake or vigil; gym; beauty salon or spa; club or discotheque; and meeting of fraternal society, private or social club or civic association or organisation.
For religious worship, except for the conduct of funeral services and weddings, all churches and places of religious worship including mosques and temples were ordered to be closed.
A lady trying to raise her child’s kite in their yard in New Amsterdam
However, this does not “prohibit any religious worship by virtual or electronic means provided that if virtual or electronic worship is being carried on in the place of worship the number of persons in that place shall not exceed five persons and the social distancing of six feet between persons shall apply.”
As it relates to weddings, the measures outlined mandate that one other than the bride, the bridegroom, official witnesses and the marriage officer is to be present. While for funerals, no more than 10 mourners, one officiant and the funeral director and the necessary staff shall attend.
Anyone who fails to comply with any of these measures, therefore, commits an offence under Section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that Section.
Berbice
Meanwhile, through strategic moves by members of the Guyana Police Force in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), kite flyers were prevented from congregating in open spaces throughout the region.
With three towns – Corriverton, Rose Hall Town and New Amsterdam – members of the Police Force were seen patrolling open spaces including Number 63 Beach. The focus was also on other beaches along the Corentyne Coast and in East Canje, Angoy’s Avenue, the Black Bush Polder and East Bank Berbice.
Some persons were seen on Easter Monday trying to raise kites from their yards while others in New Amsterdam took to the Republic Road Canal to send strings down as against upwards as customary on Easter Monday; they were fishing. However, these efforts are seen as another step taken by the Police Force to ensure that the spread of the coronavirus is reduced in Region Six.
