President of the Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) Alister Alexander is warning members that it is not going to be business as usual when they are given the green light to return to their vending spots.
With scores of vendors expected to return to Cheapside, The City after a mandatory break, Alexander told Barbados TODAY it is necessary the vendors follow the safety protocols put in place in the best interest of the country which is currently fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police stopped the vendors from setting up their trays yesterday morning because the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s demarcation of vending spots to ensure the required physical distancing protocol is maintained had not been completed.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s market division has been working tirelessly with BARVEN to get the vendors who are selling agricultural produce back out to work to feed the nation because they are an essential service. But, everything has to be done in order because this is a very serious time and therefore they have to be properly allocated and we don’t want any confusion when the allocation comes.
“I know many of them would have expected to be able to sell by today, but certain protocols had to be observed. It is not business as usual during this pandemic; nobody is allowed to do what they feel like.
“All the necessary arrangements had to be put in place so the vendors could observe those protocols and be orderly assigned spacing. Some of them came out to sell and the law enforcement told them they cannot sell today but to report to the markets division to be properly allocated their positions. They should be ready by tomorrow,” Alexander said.
When the vendors return to The City to sell their produce they can expect to be at least six feet from each other. Their customers are going to be required to strictly observe the physical distancing protocol while waiting to be served.
After announcing that the national curfew had been extended until May 4, Prime Minister Mottley indicated that Barbadians would be allowed to shop for essential items, including food, on specific days, according to their last names. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb
