The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net’

An Andros resort owner yesterday said she was “teed off” because critical information concerning the island’s COVID-19 lockdown is not being shared equally among all businesses.

Sheila Blatch, owner/operator of Love at First Sight Hotel and Restaurant in North Andros, told Tribune Business this was causing many companies and residents to miss out on details that can lighten the lockdown burden and make the health restrictions more understandable.

She said she was unaware resorts could apply for exemptions to still bring in guests as another Andros-based property has been doing.

A representative of Robby’s Beach Lodge in North Andros said it has “guests coming in” through an exemption to the lockdown as the property is in a remote area miles away from other residents. “We applied to the Competent Authority for an exemption and we have been fortunate enough to have been granted those concessions,” they said.

Speaking after the Prime Minister extended the North Andros and Cat Island lockdowns into a third week lasting until June 14, Ms Blatch said of the exemptions for hotels: “I didn’t know that. If that’s the case, I had a guest that was supposed to come in during the first week of the lockdown because he was already in Nassau.

“My daughter tried to reach him but he already went back to his home because his mission was to come here, not stay in Nassau. This information about the exemptions, I did not know that. My thing is if there is information, we are supposed to have a tourism office but I am not sure if it is open. That’s with everything on the island. We have to wait until the lockdown is over.”

“To be honest with you, I don’t hear much news because I only hear the news that comes on in the morning time,” Ms Blatch added. “I really don’t know exactly what is happening, and what is what. I am living in the middle of Stafford Creek where I get no information, so I personally don’t know why the lockdown was needed. I only heard it was about the COVID-19.

“But to me, personally, I only could feel a little bit teed-off about it because I have a gentleman here doing some work for me, and he needed me to get out. I need to go to the the other stores to get some lumber and other building materials and I can’t get it.”