While some businesses have lauded Government’s decision to allow unvaccinated children under 12 to now access safe zone establishments, others are describing the measure as perhaps too little too late.
Harripersad Ragoonanan, owner of Harry’s Water Park in Rio Claro, said the move took too long as he described his burgeoning debt since the start of the pandemic.
“They (Government) took too long to do it. This could have been done a long time and let every body ketch back themselves,” Ragoonanan explained.
Noting that COVID continues to have a severe financial toll on his business and even personal savings, Ragoonanan said to ensure his establishment is properly maintained, he has to fork out between $300,000 to $400,000 a month for the facility which spans close to 50 acres along the Tabaquite Road.
Added to which Ragoonanan said for the past two years his electricity bill amounted to close to $1.5 million.
“Plus other overhead costs like maintenance, workers’ fees, cost to feed animals, the purchase of chemicals like chlorine, water rate,” Ragoonanan explained.
Saying he continues to be forced to take loan upon loan to keep afloat, Ragoonanan added that although there was a grace period for loan payments the interest keeps piling up.
“It’s been difficult getting people to even finance loans now so I have to continuously dip into my savings. I sold some equipment to get some money,” he added.
And with the upcoming Easter and August vacations, Ragoonanan said he could only hope that business will pick-up.
But to what extent remains uncertain.
“There are still many unvaccinated people and others who are unemployed due to COVID so what business will now look like I don’t know. Only time will tell,” Ragoonanan said.
Further, he said the routes like the Tabaquite and New Grant roads leading to the park have not been maintained, which remains a deterrent to customers, another negative factor which continues to affect his business.
The cinema industry also suffered tremendous losses due to COVID.
MovieTowne owner Derek Chin who spoke to the Business Guardian from Guyana echoed similar sentiments like Ragoonanan that Government’s measure should have been implemented sooner.
“While the news is heartening T&T is, as far as I am aware, the only country in the world where a 12-year-old is not allowed into a safe zone.
“But yet they are allowed to go to malls, groceries and even school. So it’s very contradictory and it doesn’t make any sense,” Chin explained.
Further, he said when a 12-year-old from a family of five, for instance, is prevented from partaking in a movie theatre or a restaurant, then chances are the entire family will not go; a negative domino effect for various business sectors.
Chin is also adamant that cinema safe zones have been a failure and called for a re-examination of this.
“And because Government realised it (safe zone) is a failure, it began to open beaches and other areas of society.
“The Government needs to realise and you’re seeing it all over the world, there’s a relaxation of these very stringent restrictions,” he added.
According to Chin on “a good day” his business would “ do a few thousand people but now it’s in “the hundreds and less.”
Last Saturday, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh announced: “As far as safe zones are concerned, safe zones cannot be frequented by children under the age of 12 because they are not vaccinated.
“A child who would like to go with their vaccinated family into a safe zone, like a restaurant or cinema and so on, from Monday, they will be able to accompany their vaccinated parents, their vaccinated siblings into a safe zone.”
Deyalsingh further urged parents to do their own risk assessment before taking their children to the safe zones.
And like the Health Minister, Chin encouraged people to get vaccinated so that the country can achieve herd immunity which can only redound to economic benefits.
Further, Chin suggested that Government ought to improve its medical facilities and ramp-up hospital care saying, “ We can’t stop people from getting COVID. It’s going to continue who knows how long.”
Ingrid Jahra. Chief Executive Officer- CinemaOne Limited who also welcomed Government’s initiative said children do not have many choices for safe family entertainment
And going to the movies, she maintained, is a safe activity.
Additionally, Jahra said the cinema industry has presented throughout the pandemic, data that supports visiting the movies, with an audience facing in one direction “is a passive activity.”
“And still to date there has been no evidence (locally or internationally) of viral spread by movie going.
“Patrons 11 and under represent 15 per cent of CinemaONE’s audience and at 50 per cent occupancy that is a significant patron.
“We have been missing a key segment of our audience,” Jahra explained, adding that her business looks forward to serving children once again.
Better late than never
But for Chairman of Fouraime Enterprises and owner of Five Islands Water Park in Chaguaramas, John Aboud “is better late than never,” adding that there may have been other considerations which Government may have had to take on board before making the decision to allow unvaccinated children into safe zones.
Acknowledging that his business has also “suffered great losses,” Aboud noted that “it is what it is,” as he too said he hoped the situation will now improve.
“Certainly it’s a positive move. We don’t know how positive as yet because we haven’t experienced the park being opened with this new element in it. We will find out over the weekend but we are very optimistic and happy about it,” Aboud said.
Saying he endorses safe zones, Aboud also believes that as Government releases its control in terms of what citizens and business can and cannot do, safe zones measures will gradually become irrelevant.
Entertainment for children also entail pool parties.
But as simple as this seems there are other elements which contribute to this activity and also generate much needed revenue for areas also adversely impacted by COVID-19.
Some hotels like the Chancellor at St Ann’s offer kids pool parties but children must be accompanied by vaccinated parents, guardians or adults, explained General Manager, Lisa Shandilya.
She also believed that Government’s announcement has equated to a “win win” for her business and for others.
She noted that hosting a child’s party requires additional resources for her hotel like the hiring of a lifeguard, chefs, events liaison, DJ, purchase of goods (raw materials) and even orders from service companies like floating devices, bouncy castle, etc.
“As simple as an example as a kid’s party means there is economic turnover for many,” Shandilya explained.
According to Shandilya every entity, whether private or public would operate within its own set of policies applicable to the predictors of business.
And safe zones at hotels irrespective of scale, for example: luxury, mid-scale or economy, should
give the guest that “feeling” that all safety practices are adhered to, she advised.
Further as the world has moved from pandemic to endemic Shandilya said this means that establishments must know their market segment to engage customers.
“It is a sensitive time for the tourism industry to ensure that your brand is protected,” she explained.
Moreso, Shandilya said, it’s no longer Government’s decision; this is now the parent’s decision, adding they must act responsibly with the knowledge acquired over the past 24 months.
“Our hotel will do its due diligence and our measures must be respected by our clients. All staff
have been trained with 100 per cent safety measures throughout the pandemic, so we are comfortable with our offer,” Shandilya added.
