SleepIn does not enjoy protection in high places

Sep 10, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

SleepIn Hotel is the only hotel in Guyana that is criticised because it is believed that they are violating the COVID-19 measures. There have been several letters in the letter column of the newspapers to this effect. I have visited SleepIn Hotel as well as other hotels and bars both in and out of Georgetown. I did not observe any discernible differences between what occurs at SleepIn Hotel and what occurs at other establishments. To my mind, it is clear that SleepIn is being targeted. In fact, SleepIn’s owner has been charged and placed before the courts. This treatment has not been meted out to any other hotel.
The truth of the matter is that flights arrive from various destinations at Cheddi Jagan International Airport during curfew hours. These passengers therefore violate the curfew when they travel to Georgetown, they violate the curfew when they present themselves at the hotel for check-in, and they violate the curfew when they request a meal or a drink from the bar. Since the hotel is their “home” should they just lock themselves up in a room and starve? Or should the hotel owner lock them up in the room and starve them? Or worse yet refuse them entry into the hotel when they turn up for check-in and let them sleep on the parapet until the curfew expires.
The reality is all hotels check-in these guests and offer them services that they require, in violation of the COVID-19 curfew guidelines. But apparently, only SleepIn is called out.
SleepIn is a very popular hotel. Its rates are attractive and services excellent. So the occupancy rate is always high when other establishments are experiencing a hard guava season. This breeds widespread jealously among competitors, some who are in high offices or connected to those in high offices. Official power is being used to attack SleepIn.
The widely held belief that SleepIn enjoys protection in high places is clearly not true.

Yours sincerely,
Rawle Nichols

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News