Water parks fear permanent closure, million-dollar losses

Water parks continue to be closed as per the health protocols implemented by the Government as it continues to control the spread of the covid19 virus. But what cost have these establishments paid since their closure in March 2020, when the first lockdown was sanctioned?

Places like Five Islands Water and Amusement Park and Skallywag Bay in Chaguaramas, Harry’s Water Park in Rio Claro, and others are now calling on the authorities to reconsider the health protocols and guidelines as it relates to their operations.

Last week, the management of Five Islands noted the continued direction in which the government measures has steered their business may result in its permanent closure.

This sentiment was also expressed by others in the water and entertainment parks community.

The Public Health Ordinance says it is an offence for anyone to be around any body of water for recreational purposes.

But as Government slowly reopened certain facilities and activities – such as beaches – water parks, rivers and ponds remained closed.

Several water and amusement parks owners said it has been tough to keep workers employed and maintain their facilities and hope Government would soon announce their reopening.

Harry’s Water Park owner Harrypersad Ragoonanan said he feared complete closure if no provisions were made in the next month or two.

He said it has become difficult to maintain the facility which spans over 50 acres along the Tabaquite Road.

During a visit to the facility, parts of the compound looked dismal, and was covered in leaves, after being unoccupied for some time.

It was not the atmosphere Ragoonanan said he was accustomed to, or for which his facility was created for.

“The laughter is gone, the fun is gone, children and families are gone. Harry’s was created to bring some type of fun, laughter and relaxation of all people. And while I understand Government’s motive, they must also understand that they are killing businesses and people’s livelihoods,” he said.

At a cost of nearly $200,000 in basic maintenance for the month, Ragoonanan said it has become impossible to further sustain the water park.

“People are afraid to even rent the conference hall for events. So, where we could have gotten something for a small event, for example, it has now become nil.

“No one from the ministries called to find out what was going on or how we were coping and when we tried to reach out, we were given a whole set of runarounds,” he said.

Ragoonanan said he was forced to downsize his staff and use income generated from his farming endeavours to help with the water park.

He said, “Fortunately, the bank froze the loan, but for how long? Everyone needs money to survive and the basic things have become so costly. All the savings I had have been used up.

“When I saw cinemas were reopened, I was hopeful that we would reopen too. But enclosed areas were opened and we were left in the dark.”

He claimed that water and entertainment parks were better equipped to enforce the health regulations of physical distancing and to install extra facilities for patrons to wash hands, sanitise and have temperature checks.

Ragoonanan said, “I am willing to even function at half of the capacity. I am willing to ban alcohol.”

He noted that prior to covid19, significant changes and investments were made to the water park to get it ready for the Carnival 2021 season which was cancelled.

A new bar was constructed, with an outdoor stage and an area to accommodate fetes and parties.

“The hope was that for Carnival this year, this new part of the park would have been a new income earner. This is not the case now. A lot was invested and now it cannot be used.

“I stand to lose a $350 million facility if Government does not take the time to listen to our concerns and make some type of provisions for at least a partial reopening,” he said.

Ragoonanan’s expression seemed hopeless at the thought of closure, but said he left the matter in the hands of God.

Director at the La Vega Nature and Recreation Park Patricia Manhin said they too faced similar challenges and all efforts to contact the authorities about the matter were unsuccessful.

“We had to send home quite a number of our staff – our lifeguards, cleaners, receptionists. We tried to absorb as much of them in the other arm of our business which is the garden, but there is only so much we can do.

“We tried to reach out to the ministry of health, tourism and other authorities for assistance, or guidance but there was no positive feedback,” Manhin said.

She noted that La Vega garden was the main reason for its survival since the closure of the nature and recreation park.

Manhin said, “We are barely able to survive. Something has to be done. Some provisions have to been made to allow us to open. I do not understand why we were not allowed to open.

“We operate in an open space. We understand the safety concerns and seriousness of the pandemic, but we are not an enclosed space and believe and know we can adhere to the health protocols,” Manhin said.

Director of Skallywag Bay Adventure Park, Sree Venu Potluri, said they too endorsed the views expressed by Five Islands and others to reopen in keeping with the health protocols.

“It is difficult for any investor to invest a considerable amount of capital and after three months of opening to be closed. How are we going to guarantee funds to pay our overheads, employees, loan repayments and CDA’s (Chaguaramas Development Authority) rental value without any concession in the monthly amount, despite the Prime Minister’s plea to all landlords to consider a deferral?

“It is a burden to any organisation having responded to the government’s offer to invest in a tourism project in the Chaguaramas area and now to be left as the forgotten child.”

Potluri called on Government and the Prime Minister, who is the MP for Diego Martin West, the constituency the park is located in, to address the issue, which she said was affecting the community and citizens.

In a statement, Five Islands raised the issue of not being able to open and questioned the reason behind.

It said, “We are willing to operate at 30 per cent capacity and our facility has more safety protocols and that the environment can be more controlled than the beaches. We cannot sustain this forever and need to find a way to operate given the circumstances.”

Attempts to contact Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram on the issue were unsuccessful as phone calls and Whatsapp messages were not answered.

What the ordinance says

The Public Health Ordinance, chapter 12, in outlining the restriction of activities states in section 4 (1) (a): “For the purposes of controlling and preventing the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), it shall be an offence, during the period specified in regulation 17, for any person to be found at or in any river, stream, pond, spring or similar body of water or any public pool for recreational purposes.”