There is concern that “illegal nurseries” that operate under the radar when daycare centres across the island reopen their doors from next Monday, could contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the island.
A red flag has been raised by a veteran daycare owner who charged in an interview with Barbados TODAY that there was a plethora of illegitimate businesses operating even before the island was hit by the pandemic.
Yesterday, Government released a document entitled COVID-19 Framework for the Recommencement of Day Nurseries and Preschools, which outlined several protocols for daycare centres.
Those protocols include: providing each child with 25 square feet of useable floor space; placing children in groups and not allowing them to mix; wherever possible, having just one person dropping off and picking up a child; and the mandatory wearing of face masks by workers.
However, the source charged that while registered daycare centres would have to spend significant sums of money retrofitting their operations and catering to staff in order to comply with the regulations, “illegal nurseries” would not have to do so.
“Every year, to be registered daycare owners have to get certificates from the Barbados Fire Service, the Ministry of Health, the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Child Care Board. But there are quite a few nurseries which operate without them,” the source said.
“So, while our businesses will be under the scrutiny of the authorities, those illegal nurseries might very well not be adhering to those protocols and it presents a very dangerous situation, because if there is an outbreak at one of those nurseries it could spell doom for private daycare centres.
“Some of us having not earned any money for the past two months now have to look for hundreds of dollars to upgrade our nurseries simply because we have to. Those illegal nurseries will simply be eager to reopen and make some money and may not implement the protocols outlined by the authorities.”
The source said it was concerning that parents could be sometimes unknowingly leaving their children in the hands of people who were not authorized to give care.
Chairman of the Child Care Board (CCB) Joan Crawford could not be reached for comment, but Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Cynthia Forde, under whose portfolio the CCB falls, told Barbados TODAY she was unaware of any illegal nurseries being operated.
She gave the assurance, though, that once the existence of such businesses was brought to her attention action would be taken.
“Once they are reported to us, the Ministry of Health and our department will treat to it, but I can’t speak to it now because I don’t know and it hasn’t been brought to my attention,” Forde said.
“When I know I will share the information because it is wrong and it is illegal. If you did not go through the Fire Service or the police or the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of People Empowerment or the Child Care Board, then you can’t open or shouldn’t open.” randybennett@barbadostoday.bb
