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Private sector warns any extension to lockdown will hurt

by Barbados Today
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The business community appeared late Tuesday to be uneasy about a caution that the two-week COVID-19 lockdown could very well be extended.

With the rate of positive COVID-19 tests exceeding the global benchmark set for countries to consider reopening their countries, a leading spokesman for the business community suggested the private sector was wary of continuing the lockdown into a third week.

President of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) Edward Clarke suggested that only in “extreme circumstances” should such drastic measures be taken. He also pleaded with citizens to comply with COVID-19 directives to prevent further unemployment and economic ruin.

Clarke was responding to suggestions from Minister of Health Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic in another section of the media that high coronavirus infection rates could force an extension of a two-week lockdown that is scheduled to end a week from Wednesday.

The business spokesman explained that in many cases, firms have continued to pay staff and other expenses despite being asked to close.

But after the two-week window, Clarke said “goodwill” is unlikely to be extended as he held out hope that the situation will improve in the coming days.

“We will await that determination from the Prime Minister at a later date, but I think it’s still too early,” the BPSA head told Barbados TODAY.

“I would hope that an extension is only done under extreme circumstances.

“I think the Minister of Health is obviously trying to get people to understand that the objective is to bring down the positivity rates and hopefully that can be done between now and the expected end of the ‘pause’.

“Businesses have been trying to hold on and carry the costs of their staff because this is a short-term period, but ultimately, that is not something that can be sustained in the long-term and in as much as many companies and small business owners would like to do that, it is simply not affordable at this time in Barbados.”

Over the last few days, the country’s COVID-19 positivity rates have hovered around an average of five per cent, which according to Lt Col Bostic is above the threshold for reopening the country

Pointing to World Health Organisation best practice, he added that before reopening, positivity rates should remain below five per cent consistently for at least two weeks.

“We are still getting too high a percentage of positives,” the health minister said.” We have been averaging between four per cent to ten per cent positivity out of the number of tests conducted on a daily basis.”

In response, Clarke declared that no such target was provided prior to the lockdown, but said the new knowledge would place businesses in a better position to plan ahead.

He said: “If that is what they so desire and that is what their target is, I guess somebody would communicate that to us officially and we would all be prepared for that, but it can only be done if people do what they ought to do.

“But I would hate to think that Barbados is going to continue on a long-term shutdown or pause and that we all work together.

“Having come out of a long lockdown in 2020 where businesses have undergone serious financial stress – a short lockdown is one thing, but any further extension on the lockdown will have a very detrimental impact on business.

“There is no doubt about it and it’s not just businesses; the wider Barbados and our livelihoods will be affected.

“We need to measure everything carefully and make very informed decisions as to how we wish to proceed as a country.

“Right now we are guided by the Government and the Ministry of Health and I think all Barbadians should just do what is needed in terms of protecting ourselves, our families and our fellowmen and follow the guidelines and regulations outlined by Government.

“The objective must be to reduce the case count and the positive rate count and the death count. That should be everyone’s objective in Barbados at this time, not just the Ministry of Health and the Government.”

(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)

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