Limited grocery openings announced

From 9 a.m. Wednesday, Barbadians in urgent need will be able to order and collect groceries – but not shop – at supermarkets during the 24-hour curfew, Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw has announced.

But she urged those who were already fully stocked “to stand down from grocery shopping at this time” as unveiled a range of options at a virtual news conference this morning.

Starting Wednesday, a special regime to facilitate people who cannot conduct online ordering is also to take effect at five supermarkets.

Bradshaw said: “We are appealing to those households and Barbadians that have already purchased adequate supplies to stand down from grocery shopping at this time, to allow others who may not have had the resources or the opportunity to stock up to acquire their essentials needs.”

Declaring there “will be no in-supermarket shopping,” Bradshaw disclosed that outlets would reopen on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday this week with strict measures enforced for the collection of groceries that would allow for physical distancing.

Bradshaw said: “They will be able to go to Channell’s, Trimart, Popular, SavingsMart and Jordan to pay for and collect prepackaged baskets that would have already been prepared by the operators. Shoppers will be able to see a list of items in each basket ahead of placing and paying for their orders on site. These baskets will be in values of $25, $50, $100 up to $150 dollars with the contents determined by the individual retailers based on their examination of the shopping patterns of their retailers.”

She added: “All shoppers when placing walk-up orders for the pre-prepared baskets or collecting telephone or online orders will be required to observe physical distancing rules of a minimum of six feet behind the person in front of them.”

For other shoppers, orders can be placed with participating supermarkets via their website, telephone calls, WhatsApp service or email. Payments can be made using cash, debit or credit cards.