Follow the protocols – BPSA head

Even as the country braces for tighter measures expected in the coming days, president of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA), Edward Clarke believes the current protocols in place are stringent enough.

However, he says the nonchalant behaviour exhibited by some Barbadians and visitors is responsible for the continued spread of COVID-19.

On Saturday during a televised press conference Minister of Health and Wellness Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic declared that there was community spread in Barbados.

With the country already under a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew until the end of the month, Bostic hinted that stricter measures were coming.

“We believe and we have always said that we will tighten restrictions as required and that process started with the curfew and there will be further tightening, but that is a decision that will be taken in consultation with the wider Social Partnership and that will be communicated in the coming days by the Prime Minister…” Bostic said at the time.

But despite the strong belief by Barbadians that another “lockdown” is on the cards, Clarke said that may not be necessary.

He said it was important for businesses and persons alike to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.

He revealed that a meeting of the Social Partnership was scheduled to take place this week.

“The issue is that we have a lot of measures and protocols already established, it is the enforcement of these protocols and the abuse by members of the public just simply not following the proper protocols,” Clarke said.

“We currently have the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit going around and monitoring various businesses on a regular business and if they do find any violations they do bring them in order…I think what we need to ensure is that we have the smaller businesses in the rural and some in the urban areas that may not be as strong on the protocols. But generally speaking, I think the enforcement is going to be more of an enforcement of general protocols across Barbados and having the Barbadian public and visitors here ensure that they follow the protocols that are already well established by Government.”

While Clarke said he did not want to predict what Government was planning to do, he said the private sector had already made some recommendations, related mostly to upgrading existing protocols.

“I really can’t say. That is all within the Government’s purview. We have given the Government some suggestions of things that can be enhanced and I rather not comment at this stage. We are awaiting discussions with Government to give our feedback from the private sector on certain things that can be improved and enhanced and we just need to make sure that we do what we’re doing better because obviously we have had lapses in what we have been doing from the testing and the protocols side and we have to ensure as a country we do much better going forward,” Clarke said. (randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)