Mixed business response to march

IT appeared to be business as usual for a number of stores, which remained open yesterday while the march, led by the Trade Union movement and the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA), took to the City streets in protest of the hike in the National Social Responsibility Levy.

During a joint press conference held between the Barbados Workers’ Union and the BPSA last Friday, head of the BPSA said that the body was “asking all private sector companies to close their businesses to allow their employees – on full pay, to attend the march”.

Thousands of Barbadians turned out to yesterday’s march and rally, which started and ended at Queen’s Park, proof that members of the business community and wider Barbados answered the call to support the action. When The Barbados Advocate visited Carlton & A1 Store in Black Rock yesterday, several shoppers could be seen approaching and peering through the closed glass doors of the establishment for signs of activity. Shortly thereafter, a sign was placed on the door stating that the store was closed in order to attend the march in Queen’s Park and would be reopened at 1 p.m. SurePay was also closed.

However, other stores in the complex were open including the Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union and the Carlton pharmacy.

In the busy Warrens town centre around 11 a.m., Massy supermarket was opened and in the neighbouring Dome Mall, Up Beat and Promo Tech were the only two stores that were closed to attend the march.

Over at Welches, Marshall Trading and Automotive Art were closed. Cost-U-Less was open. The majority of the stores in the Walk Shopping Plaza were also busy, however, Up Beat and Carter’s were closed.

The Barbados Advocate understands that some stores across the island gave employees the option to show solidarity by attending the march, but remained open if employees did not express an interest in marching. Others however closed their doors until 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., whether their staff were attending or not.

A cashier at one of the stores when asked by this newspaper if she would be attending the march answered with confusion etched on her face, “What march?” (JH)