Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw (right) speaks with Tony Catlyn, Chairman of Trimart Supermarkets while Colin Jordan, Minister of Labour and Social Partnership and Peter Chase, Operations Manager of Trimart Supermarkets look on.
Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw, and Colin Jordan, Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, took in the newly implemented shopping changes firsthand yesterday when they visited various supermarkets and banks.
At the final stop of the visits at Popular Discounts in Kendal Hill, Bradshaw offered brief words about the morning tours.
She said that she was indeed pleased with the people of Barbados adhering to the physical distancing guidelines and also the number of persons wearing protective masks while conducting business.
“I am also pleased to report that many of them are also taking the opportunity to wear their masks, whether their cloth mask or other masks. They are certainly ensuring that they have the necessary protection,” stated Bradshaw.
Regarding the newly implemented system, Bradshaw said that it was a process which would need to be fine-tuned, but the government was working with the retailers.
“The retailers have worked with us through the system. We have been able to fine-tune the system for the most part, and with anything there will always be teething issues. The reality is that today is not unusual because we recognise that people would obviously not have had the opportunity over the last couple of days to be able to purchase items,” she explained.
Bradshaw also commented on the outlook regarding the success of the initiative, including the hardware stores which had been giving good reports so far.
“I think generally the system has been working well. In the hardware stores we have had a situation where they too have expressed that persons are complying with the system. People are not trying to overdo in the sense of change or the large items. The systems have been working well in terms of controlling the numbers. We did not see the large lines on the side of the hardware stores as we would have seen at some of the grocery stores. But I think the general feeling is that the alphabetical system right now is perhaps a better method of being able to allow consumers to get the necessary goods that they need.”
(AS)
CAPTION: PIC: COVID-19: Shoppers April 15 #1