'Curfew impeding local businesses'- Opposition Leader
The latest shot thrown is that Government is hindering local businesses from doing business and making profits.
The Opposition Leader has proposed that by further relaxing the curfew, businesses such as restaurants will be able to implement a strict reservation policy in efforts to adhere to social distancing guidelines, if they were allowed to operate until 10:00 pm or 11:00 pm.
Currently, approved restaurants are allowed to entertain dine-in customers; however, a curfew remains in place from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
Many out of jobs
“There have been no spikes or clusters of COVID-19 transmission in the Territory, therefore a further relaxed curfew would enable businesses in the food industry to become profitable and in turn sustain the business owners and employees’ livelihoods,” Hon Penn stated in a press release today, May 26, 2020.
In accordance with the Imposition of a Curfew (No. 18) which took effect on May 24, 2020, the curfew has been extended until June 7, 2020.
According to Hon Penn, the disruption in business due to the decline in traffic to restaurants has caused irreparable harm, leaving businesses saddled with debt.
“Restaurants not only require reassurance from Government but they also need a fighting chance to survive the COVID-19 crisis. The severe impact of restaurants in the Territory not being able to open for dinner has resulted in servers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders and supervisors/managers finding themselves without a job,” the Opposition Leader said.
We continue as a Territory to engage in preventative measures as we continue to balance the safety with the rebooting and reawakening of our economy in a phased basis and under the ‘New Regular’ living and working with COVID-19.
‘As a Cabinet we stand by our tough decisions’- Premier Fahie
Premier Fahie, in a statement on May 21, 2020, said he is aware not all of the decisions made by Cabinet are popular.
“Many of them are tough, but I can assure you that they were made in the best interest of the people of the Virgin Islands.”
Hon Fahie said when a Government is faced with the reality that there is no cure or vaccine to prevent thousands and thousands from dying, it must do all it can to protect its people, even if its popularity has to take a hit.
“When you are faced with the reality that the BVI was projected to have had more than 3,700 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the BVI, you have no other choice but to put preventative measures in place to ensure the health and safety of our people.
“As a Cabinet we stand by our tough decisions, whether they are popular or not,” Hon Fahie said.
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17 Responses to “'Curfew impeding local businesses'- Opposition Leader”
Sir, welcome to the NEW NORM. It is up to the restaurant owners to fit in. Dinner can be served as early as 4:00 There are no tourists on the island either, ( not that locals don’t dine out), but one has to think outside the regular box.
Get a clue.
And who eats dinner at 4?????
“Mehson Go Sit Down!”
The opposition is a mess. Dumb&*#k