The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A restaurant owner yesterday said he was "very upset" by the reimposition of tighter COVID-19 restrictions on the industry, adding that he felt "victimised" due to the sharp cut in opening hours.

Jacques Carlino, owner/operator of the Blue Sail Bar & Grill, told Tribune Business: “I’m very upset, very upset. My staff is very upset. I have been trying to tag along my staff for months now, paying them when NIB was not paying them.

"You know, to this date, they still have not gotten their National Insurance Board (NIB) payments, and if I had not paid their salaries from March, I don’t know what they would have done."

He spoke out after the Prime Minister yesterday said no indoor or outdoor restaurant dining will be permitted in New Providence and Abaco as he bids to halt the rapid surge in COVID-19 infections on the former island in particular.

Restaurants will only be allowed offer take-away, curb side and deliveries, and must also contend with earlier closing hours during the week after the curfew's start was brought forward to 7pm. The weekend lockdown also eliminates what, for many, is traditionally their busiest time.

“Where take away services are being provided, enforcement monitors will be vigilant to ensure that there is no congregating either indoors or outdoors by patrons," Dr Minnis added.

Mr Carlino said: “My staff is short now as they know curbside can’t keep them on. There is no money for all of the front team members of my staff; there is no money to keep them on. It’s very tight and I understand that this COVID-19 is out of control. I am looking at the numbers and they depress me, and I totally understand.

“I feel as if we had followed the protocols from the beginning. We sent our protocols to the Prime Minister right from the beginning before the reopening, so punish those who are not following the protocols; don’t punish everybody.

"I was expecting the three-day lockdown because of the holiday, and then I was expecting that we would tighten the curfew, but we need to still open and stay open. Make us close at 6pm and let us get some money in the tin so we can survive, because otherwise we are all going to die," Mr Carlino added.

“It doesn’t matter how big our shoulders were in March; we are weakened to the ground. My restaurant has done well,; I am one of the lucky ones, but still that’s it. The reserves are gone and I think this is too tough, and I am talking from the heart.

"I understand that we have to get it under control, and it must be done if we want a chance for opening up on November 1. I totally see where the Prime Minister is coming from, but leave us open until at least 7pm, so everybody can operate a little bit of business. Doing curbside and delivery, there is no money in it. There is no money to pay the rent and that’s the reality."

Mr Carlino said he was unsure if he will stay open to offer curb-side, and added: "The landlord who has been helping us through this time, it is getting tough on them, too. It is tough on everybody. Everybody needs to work, and we all pay the price for about ten percent of the population who can’t keep their butts in their house. That’s what’s happening.”

He said he has been a staunch supporter of the COVID-19 health protocols from the start, and had ensured staff to wear their masks and face shields, and sanitise hands regularly. He said: “I have ordered 100 new shields for my staff. We don’t let anybody sit at the bar. We are right on top of it; even inside our restaurant the tables are so far apart.

"We really have been obeying the law. Our customers are warned that when they come in, we close at 9pm and at 8:45pm we go around and tell them it is closing time and they have to be gone in ten minutes. We do our best to obey because we want to stay open.