The Tribune

Cat Island businesses yesterday slammed the 24-hour notice that the Prime Minister gave of the island’s two-week lockdown as “totally unacceptable” since persons had too little time to prepare.

Michael Harris, owner/operator of Neighbourhood Convenience Store, told Tribune Business that “things are rough” as a result of the lockdown’s imposition from 8pm on Monday night. He challenged the logic of announcing the move on a Sunday evening ahead of a public holiday the following day, which gave residents very little warning.

Mr Harris said: “I don’t understand why the lockdown came on a Sunday. Monday was a holiday, so you have no way of doing business at all. The boat has left for Nassau yesterday, and you couldn’t place your order. It’s just crazy.

“I could understand a lockdown taking place on a Friday afternoon. Then you have time to place your orders and do your banking. But not late Sunday evening with a holiday following.”

Branding the snap lockdown as “totally unacceptable”, Mr Harris alleged that other businesses are open as normal. He said: “You have other people who are able to operate. We have people that are doing water sports on the island, and we have people working at the airport, but I’m not sure how many working at the airport are responsible for building the airport terminal.

“Cat Island businesses are the keepers of the island. It’s a good thing I work and live on my property, and have my business phone connected to my house, or else I wouldn’t be able to help anyone who came in desperate need.”

Mr Harris also blasted the “disrespectful way” in which the prime minister said he was sending extra Royal Bahamas Defence Force and police force officers to the island, as this suggested residents were “criminals” - something he said will not be forgotten on election day.

Allancio Gilbert, owner/operator of Gilbert’s Car Rentals on Cat Island, also voiced concern that the lockdown came with little to no warning. While acknowledging that it was a possibility due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, he added that he was still surprised by the suddenness of the move.

Mr Gilbert said: “It caught us by surprise, but we know it needed to be done. I mean, it’s hard to prepare for something like this as there isn’t much you can do, and we just hope that the residents are prepared.”

Valderine Adderley, owner/operator of Adderley’s Bargain Mart in Andros, welcomed the lockdown following the recent brawl on the island that went viral on social media.

She said: “This curfew hasn’t been affecting business because I normally close up at 5pm in the evening anyway. So it’s good for me. The people are adhering to the safety protocols and if they aren’t wearing a mask, I tell them not to come inside.

“Sometimes I hang around after 5pm until 6pm to clean up and put some things back on the shelves, but that’s it. I close up and go upstairs to my room. It’s crab season, but there isn’t a lot of rain so no crabs are crawling out in the open yet. People have to go way in the back of the bush for crabs, and no one really wants to do that now. We have to wait until the rain comes.”

Ms Adderley said persons can ride out the 14-day lockdown and not miss much of crab season because it is too early. She added: “People’s shopping isn’t being affected by the lockdown, but when the boat comes in on Thursday we will begin to see more people stocking up on items for the weekend.

“But right now, we will see the same person come into the store three times a day- that one person shops for the entire family and that is okay with me. The stores and the gas stations will always make it because they are essential, so I am not worried.”

Lillian Winder-Wallace, owner/operator of Lilly’s Creation in the Berry Islands, said businesses should be able to make it through the lockdown without having to close permanently. She added: “Most of us worked down at Great Stirrup Cay and Coco Cay in any event, and we have been out of a job now for over a year.

Ms Winder-Wallace, a handicraft manufacturer, said: “It’s kind of hard but I think the lockdown was necessary. The only thing was I think they took too long to lock us down. They waited until the cases got so high and someone died from the disease, but everything is okay with me and the lockdown.

“There’s nothing happening on this side. That’s why I said two weeks ago they should have locked us down, because people were still partying and having fun, but now is a good time to see if we can slow this pandemic down a bit. This lockdown might control it a bit.”