New shopping system off to a good start, says Acting PM

Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw today expressed satisfaction with the new alphabetical shopping system  that took effect today.

Bradshaw and Minister of Labour and Social Relations Colin Jordan observed the process while touring several outlets including Popular at Kendall Hill, Massy at Worthing, Christ Church, hardware stores and banks.

Under the new system,  citizens are allotted specific days and times for transacting business at supermarkets, fish markets, hardware stores and banks.

“ I think the system has generally worked well,” Bradshaw said while acknowledging that there were some teething issues, including long lines at some locations.

“The retailers have worked with us through the system. We’ve been able to fine-tune the system for the most part and with anything there will always be teething issues. The reality is that today is not unusual because we recognize that people would obviously not have had the opportunity over the last couple of days to be able to purchase items and in some cases we are seeing people purchasing or rather they having full trolleys of items, which I believe they want to just stock up on a number of things that they didn’t have the opportunity to get over the past couple of days,” she added.

 

Bradshaw was especially pleased that Barbadians were adhering to physical distancing guidelines and most were wearing masks.

“This is not easy for Barbadians. It is an adjustment that we are all having to make. I, for one, don’t like the idea of having to wear a mask, but in the circumstances, I too appreciate that it is for my own safety and it is also intended to protect other persons as well. And so I would encourage you to just continue to adhere to all of the messages that have been put out there to ensure that the numbers are contained, that you sanitise your hands, that you continue to recognize the physical distancing of the six feet from the person in front of you and to basically comply with all of the things that we’re putting in place to ensure that people are able to access the necessary goods and food supplies that are necessary during this period.”

The Acting Prime Minister also praised frontline workers at the outlets, distributors and wholesalers for ensuring that Barbadians have access to groceries and other important items.