Hafa Adai Members,
We send our care and concern to all our members and the community impacted by the increase in positive COVID-19 cases. We respect and commend your decisions to do what is best for your company, your staff, family and customers. We join you in prayer for swift recoveries for all positive cases.
Yesterday, Governor Leon Guerrero issued
Executive Order 2020-26. Although Guam remains in PCOR 3 certain restrictions will be enacted which will have a short term effect on gatherings at specific venues beginning Saturday, August 8th. Impacts to the business community will include:
- Temporary Closures of Bars & Taverns from Saturday, August 8th to Saturday, August 22nd
- Wake and Funeral Services will be restricted and food will be prohibited (guidance from the Department of Public Health is forthcoming)
- Occupancy at any place of business or public accommodation continues to operate at 50% seating capacity or up to ten (10) people, whichever is greater.
As we continue to navigate this fragile path to rebuilding and evolving our businesses we must now - more than ever - support each other by patronizing our local establishments. We commend all companies and organizations that have gone above and beyond to abide with public health and CDC guidelines.
However, we need to do more. We must be active and vocal with our legislature about protecting our small businesses. More and more companies are permanently closing their doors, unable to survive without income. We must speak out in support of construction associated with military projects as these dollars are imperative to our economic survival while our tourism industry recovers. We cannot afford pauses or delays. When there is no work, there is no money. Period.
We urge our government officials to support our economy by removing barriers to doing business instead of supporting legislation that will place additional burden on the private sector. Lets work collaboratively to avail of the current opportunities to re-skill our unemployed workforce to support jobs available now.
There is much to do and we all need to share in the effort toward paving the path forward.
Onward together,
Catherine Castro
President
