The COVID-19 Monitoring Unit will be out in full force for the next 48 hours to ensure that Barbadians remain in compliant with COVID-19 Directive No.4 which expires at midnight on Sunday.
Attorney General, Dale Marshall, held a press conference today to elucidate on Directive No.4 and the incoming Directive No.5, which takes effect on Monday, as he pointed out that some Barbadians appeared to misunderstand when one ended and when the other began.
He said he had received “numerous reports” that people had opened shops yesterday after Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, announced that shops would be allowed to open when Directive No.5 takes effect on Monday.
He said: “Some Barbadians seemed to believe that the measures which she (Prime Minister) announced last night came into effect immediately. The current directive under which we are operating ends on February 28, at midnight. So the current directive with all of its restrictions continues unabated until Sunday night.”
He made it clear that: “The measures announced by the Honourable Prime Minister will take effect from March 1 and will run for a two-week period until March 14.”
“Because the Prime Minister said shops will be allowed to open, some people seemed to believe that was in reference to today, tomorrow and Sunday and we have had numerous reports that Barbadians have opened shops.
“Shops, supermarkets all of those things will not be allowed to open over the weekend,” he firmly declared, referring to today and tomorrow.
“So for those people who stole a fast one and opened their shops today and if they think they will have an opportunity to open it tomorrow (Saturday) they are absolutely wrong,” Marshall said, adding, “The COVID Monitoring Unit will be out and will be looking to deal with those particular kinds of issues.”
He also pointed out that the stay-at-home weekend had ended last week but he warned that Barbadians were only allowed to leave their homes for reasons specified under the directive.
The Attorney General said appliance stores, automotive stores, and workshops, as well as construction sites, hardware stores, gas stations, shops, supermarkets, mini marts, fish-markets, public markets and fishermen can operate from Monday.
In addition, professional services such as architects, accountants, attorneys, and quantity surveyors would also be allowed to open their businesses.
Landscapers, gardeners, maids, nannies and other household staff, plumbers and carpenters, he said, can also resume work as well as repairmen such as telephone and computer technicians.
However, the Attorney General warned that in all of these instances it would only be with minimum staff. (MB)
