Gov’t pleads for patience as it tries to solve shopping puzzle

One day after a series of new initiatives was rolled out to manage grocery shopping, Government has gone back to the drawing board to see how the much-criticised process could be improved.

Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw gave notice of the impending changes during a brief statement this afternoon.

Bradshaw admitted that yesterday’s reopening of supermarkets across the island did not go as smoothly as planned.

However, she gave the assurance that Government was constantly in conversation with the Social Partnership to find remedies.

“We’ve been monitoring the situation across Barbados to look at the response many Barbadians have been having in dealing with the changes we have been making. Like you, we are also concerned as a Government. I must say that many of the people across the country have been adhering to the physical distancing guidelines but we do have some challenges.

“In discussions with the retailers and a number of supermarkets across the country, what we have been noticing is that they have actually been having some difficulties in being able to meet a number of the orders, whether online, via telephone or via WhatsApp messages. They have been coping but they are challenged,” Bradshaw conceded.

“As a consequence, over the past 24 hours we have continued our discussions with the retailers. We have put forward some suggestions and they have also made some recommendations and those discussions are continuing. I want to give you the assurance that over the course of the next 48 hours, certainly at the earliest by Saturday, the intention is to speak to the country so that you can make preparations both as shoppers and also retailers to know what will happen in the course of the next few days and next few weeks.”

The acting PM said concerns had also been raised regarding the long lines at post offices.

She said measures were being put in place, such as the installation of tents, the extension of opening hours and hiring of additional staff, to ensure elderly persons were dealt with more speedily.

“With respect to the long lines we saw yesterday and continuing today at the various post offices across the country, I too am concerned about the number of pensioners who have been queuing on the streets. We’ve made arrangements from yesterday to extend the opening hours for the post offices,” the she said.

Bradshaw, however, lauded the staff at the post offices for accommodating pensioners past yesterday’s closing time.

Additionally, she revealed that banks would now allow deposits, a service that was put on hold when the island went on a 24-hour curfew a week ago.

“We responded to a lot of persons who had concerns regarding the inability to be able to do deposits at the banks and I’m pleased to report that the Attorney General as well as the finance team have been in discussions with the banking sector and they have agreed to accommodate the deposits for persons to be able to fulfill those during the day and at night,” Bradshaw said.

While acknowledging the trying circumstances facing the country, Bradshaw called on Barbadians to work with Government.

She said this was the only way that a sense of normalcy would return to the island.

“We understand at this time the difficulty that Barbadians are enduring as a result of the changes which have been made. We understand that this is a very fluid situation, there is no perfect solution, but I want to assure you that we are continuing to work together with all of the stakeholders to be able to find solutions to the problems.

“Barbadians I just ask you to be patient, work with us, be respectful as you have been thus far of the police and the authorities and simply be patient, because we are in this together and the only way that we are going to be able to find the solutions to the challenges that lie ahead is if we recognize where we are and what it is that together as a nation we all have to do to be able to get back on track,” Bradshaw maintained.