City almost back to normal
Guyana Chronicle
October 11, 2002
GEORGETOWN was almost back to normal yesterday save for some business places that remained closed on day two of the `shutdown the country' call by a group of businessmen to protest against the current crime situation in Guyana.
Many of the stores that had shut tight their doors Wednesday, were open for business yesterday, more customers were out, traffic was heavy in quarters that it was not the previous day, and at a bus park, drivers said the number of commuters had greatly improved.
However, some of the stores closed their doors after noon, reportedly due to 'bad business'.
There was a marginal improvement in school attendance in the city but the Education Ministry could not have given a definitive analysis of the turnout to schools nationwide due to another bomb scare at the ministry which left workers out of the building for most of the day.
The ministry on Wednesday reported a 90% attendance rate of Public Officers within the ministry, in excess of 90% teachers nationwide, and about 40% attendance rate at city schools. The other regions were reportedly more depressing with 30%.
The city was the focal point of the shutdown plan and was most affected Wednesday.
Business places closed in other parts of the country but some areas, including the Essequibo, were not affected by the protest.
Business places along Regent Street, part of the city's main shopping district, and some other quarters of Georgetown closed Wednesday in protest at the escalating crime situation in the country.
The few that were open Wednesday did not see the relevance of closing with some claiming that this would definitely not solve the problem. Some yesterday were still questioning the objective of the protest action.
When the Chronicle revisited a store yesterday, the proprietor stated, "...is the same thing I say. I know they gon open back today."
In advertisements, a group calling itself 'Unite Guyana' had urged business people and others to shut down the country for two days.
It demanded that the political parties and the Government accept that the country is in a crisis, that all political parties come together to resolve the situation immediately without any preconditions, and that the security forces take more proactive and direct action to resolve the crime situation.
However, some business owners yesterday said they could not have afforded closing for two days though they are in support/agreement with the move.
A proprietor on Regent Street said he had planned to close for one day noting that he did not mind making the sacrifice though he lost some business.
Sales yesterday were okay for him, but he said at this time of year, sales are not much better anyway.
He said he was in support of the shutdown, pointing out that affected businesspeople can decide to leave the country anytime since most of them have visas and savings abroad.
According to him, "it's the small man that will suffer."
Another businessman on Regent Street said he opened his store after noticing that many others had opened.
He said he was not in support of the shutdown call but was just "following the pattern".
There was also an increase in turnout at the municipal markets yesterday and Officer in Charge of the Bourda Market, Inspector Langevine reported a 65% turnout in contrast to the 10% turnout Wednesday.
He said there was also an 85% turnout in the 'Bourda Green'.
The Regent Street entrances to the Bourda Market were closed Wednesday and an official of the Mayor and City Council explained that the gates were open earlier but a decision was taken to close them since about 90% of the stalls were closed.
At the Stabroek Market, Officer in Charge, Mr. Trevor Merriman reported that the situation there was little better than the previous day but that most of the stalls were not open. He said there was also ample security for the stalls.
Selling outside the market, had, however, markedly improved.
Sheriff Street was also busier though some business places remained closed and a similar situation prevailed in Kitty and some other business areas.
Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Mr. Manzoor Nadir yesterday commented that through the shutdown the business community has demonstrated some amount of resilience and is now letting its voice be heard.
He said the sector used to be silent in the past and stressed that the ministry is ready to meet with the commercial and manufacturing sector to devise strategies to deal with their concerns.
Reiterating his position that the shutdown was a move in the wrong direction, the minister stressed that he has been calling on the umbrella groups to meet him.
And at the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) weekly press conference yesterday, Executive Member, Mr. Deryck Bernard acknowledged the business community's decision to take action in response to the current crime situation, which he said would send a strong signal of their intolerance.