The Private Sector Commission has dispatched a letter to President Irfaan Ali, complaining that the Sleepin Hotel and Casino continues to breach the COVID-19 guidelines.

In the letter dated, July 8 and signed by Chairman of the PSC, Paul Cheong, the private sector said it is a growing concern to the body and the wider business community that while the COVID-19 protocols and curfew directives are in place, the proprietor of Sleepin Hotel and Casino continues to ‘deliberately ignore with impunity’ those orders.

“We have raised this matter, Mr. President at the meetings of the COVID-19 task force where we are represented by Mr. Ramesh Dokhoo, in the presence of the Prime Minister, and we have been informed that directives have been given to the police on the matter. We must point out, however, that these directives are deliberately being ignored by the Sleepin hotel and casino,” the PSC Chairman said in his letter to the President.

The PSC said it has urged its members, as it continues to do with the wider private sector, to cooperate and comply with the curfew directives set out in the official gazette but said Sleepin remains a ‘glaring and publicly obvious exception.’

The PSC now wants to meet with the President on the issue.

The Sleepin owner and some patrons were charged earlier this year for breaching the COVID-19 regulations.

The owner has argued that hotels are considered essential and are allowed to be open for the full 24hrs.  He believes the services offered by the hotel for its guests ought not be separated from the hotel’s operations.  

Related posts:

Sleepin Hotel owner, employee and patrons charged for breach of curfew Police to continue to go after nightspots and bars breaching COVID guidelines Sleepin Hotel granted Casino License; 150 workers being hired Lack of Financial Information responsible for refusal of casino license for Sleepin Hotel -Gaming Authority